WASHINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) – U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Tuesday that crude oil is expected to resume flowing through Saudi Arabia’s crucial East-West Pipeline within days, following a temporary shutdown due to attacks by Iran‑aligned groups.
“It’s still a detailed assessment, but I think it will be measured in days,” Wright said on the sidelines of a G20 energy meeting in Houston. He added that Saudi Arabia is working to increase oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz with U.S. military assistance.
Reuters sources offered divergent timelines for the pipeline’s return. One source estimated that damage could require five to six weeks of repairs, while another suggested a quicker fix that would allow partial pumping while work continues.
The 1,200‑km (745‑mile) East‑West Pipeline, which traverses the Arabian Peninsula, has been the primary conduit for Middle Eastern oil over the past six months as the strait between Iran and Oman has been largely closed due to the Iran war. It has carried 4‑5 million barrels per day, representing roughly 4‑5 % of global supply, shielding Saudi Arabia from the disruptions that have hit other Gulf exporters.
Washington has resisted Saudi requests for direct military intervention beyond intelligence sharing, according to three sources who spoke to Reuters on Monday.
President Donald Trump said over the weekend that he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and that Iran‑aligned Houthis, who have launched missile and drone strikes on the kingdom from Yemen, had also contacted Washington urging it to stay out of the conflict.
(Reporting by Timothy Gardner and Susan Heavey. Editing by Mark Potter, Rod Nickel)
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