Iraq’s government acknowledged that the attacks were launched from Iraqi territory, vowing a full investigation and removing two senior officials from their posts.
BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi authorities moved swiftly Saturday to limit the diplomatic and security repercussions after Iran-backed militias were accused of striking a crucial Saudi oil pipeline. The attack forced the world’s largest oil producer to halt operations on its main alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway long threatened by Iran.
An umbrella organization representing Iran-backed Iraqi militias denied playing a role. Still, Baghdad confirmed that the assault originated inside Iraq, promised to determine who was responsible and dismissed two high-ranking officials.
The strike on Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline unfolded as Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels increased pressure near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. About 12% of global trade travels through the strategic passage, which the Houthis have targeted as part of their campaign against neighboring Saudi Arabia and shipping linked to it.
Regional officials told The Associated Press that the Houthis and Iraqi militias had recently coordinated attacks against Saudi Arabia.
With the conflict now in its sixth month and raising the prospect of further increases in global oil prices, U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran was “probably” behind the pipeline strike while seeking to ease fears of a broader escalation.
“The Houthis called us, and they don’t want to fight with us,” Trump said. “They would much prefer not having us involved, and they’re letting most ships go through.” He said his administration had held “discussions” with the Houthis, though neither Trump nor the White House said when they took place. His administration held at least one round of talks with the group in May 2025.
“We are not in war with Saudi Arabia, and the Houthis have their own problems,” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told India Today TV while attending the BRICS summit in India.
Iraq to investigate attack on Saudi pipeline
The Iraqi militia coalition rejected accusations that it carried out the pipeline attack, although it praised the Houthis for what it described as their “ongoing battlefield victories against Saudi forces.”
The group said it would cooperate with the Iraqi government’s investigation.
Iraq is under mounting pressure to prevent local militias from aiding Iran proxy groups. The Iraqi government has set a Sept. 30 deadline for nonstate groups to disarm, but several of the most powerful militias have said they will not comply, including the Iran-backed ones.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said he had ordered an investigation into the operations command of Maysan province, along the border with Iran, and dismissed the province’s commander. His office later said the provincial police chief was also dismissed.
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Saudi Arabia shut down the cross-country oil pipeline on Friday, saying it was a “precautionary measure” after the pipeline came under drone attack the day before. It blamed the attacks on several drones that came from Iraq but said the kingdom would not retaliate, to give the Iraqi government “an opportunity to take the necessary measures.”
Several Arab countries including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Egypt, condemned the attack, according to the Saudi state news agency.
Built in the 1980s, the East-West pipeline has played an important role in Saudi Arabia’s ability to export oil following this year’s disruption of the Strait of Hormuz. By early June, Saudi Arabia had more than doubled oil exports from the Red Sea port at the pipeline’s end to more than 5 million barrels per day, according to the International Energy Agency.
Iran-backed Iraqi militias have carried out strikes on U.S.-linked targets both inside and outside Iraq since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28.
Saudi Arabia and the United States bombed Iranian-backed militias in Iraq in July after blaming them for drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities that had been claimed by the Houthis. Regional officials told the AP that the Houthis helped the militias plan and execute the attacks.
Meanwhile, in a decision possibly linked to the investigation of the pipeline attack, Iraq closed two key border crossings with Iran, Iraq’s state-run news agency reported.
Valiollah Hayati, deputy governor of Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province, said Shalamcheh and Chazabeh crossings were closed.
Diplomacy continues in a tense region
Iran has said a regional meeting is planned Monday between Iran and other Gulf countries about talks between Tehran and Oman — located on the other side of the Strait of Hormuz — on managing shipping there.
Commercial ship traffic remains low on what had been considered an international waterway before the war. Iran has expressed interest in having ships pay fees for transit. It has said traffic into the Persian Gulf from the Gulf of Oman would pass entirely through Iranian waters, while the outbound route would pass partly through Iranian waters and partly through Oman’s territorial waters.
“The waterway would be opened up on the condition that the U.S. will terminate its blockade,” Iran’s president said in his interview with the Indian broadcaster.
Bahrain on Saturday, however, said it will not attend any group meeting including Iran before the restoration of diplomatic relations between the countries.
Jill Lawless and Darlene Superville in Dublin contributed to this report.
