Riyadh: Iranian drones struck Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery on Monday, forcing the company to shut down operations there. Ras Tanura is one of Saudi Arabia’s key refining hubs and the attack there has raised concerns of broader disruption in the region’s energy infrastructure.
While Aramco’s media office is yet to issue an official statement on the attack, Saudi’s defence ministry spokesperson told Al Arabiya TV that two drones targeting Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura facility were intercepted, as reported by NDTV.
A video being circulated on social media shows dense smoke engulfing the facility.
The global oil market is going through a moment of extreme strain, with crude prices logging their steepest four-year surge. The ongoing conflict in the Gulf has effectively paralysed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passage that handles nearly 20% of the world’s daily oil flows.
Though Tehran has not formally closed the route, several shipowners have suspended transits, citing security concerns. Iran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen have also warned of attacks on commercial shipping along that route.
Any sustained disruption to Gulf exports — particularly if the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively frozen — could tighten supplies just as global demand picks up, setting the stage for renewed inflationary pressures worldwide. Brent crude has already climbed to $80 a barrel in early trade as traders priced in fresh supply risks from the Gulf.
Saudi Arabia has said that it repelled “cowardly” Iranian attacks targeting areas around the capital, Riyadh, as well as locations in the kingdom’s eastern region. Riyadh condemned Tehran’s actions, stressing that it had made clear its territory and airspace were not being used in US or Israeli operations against Iran.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its rejection and condemnation in the strongest terms of the blatant and cowardly Iranian attacks,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
The attacks “cannot be justified under any pretext or in any way, and which came despite the knowledge of the Iranian authorities that the Kingdom has affirmed that it will not allow its airspace or territory to be used to target Iran,” it added.
Saudi Arabia also summoned Iran’s ambassador to the kingdom, Alireza Enayati, in Riyadh in connection with the strikes.
