Trump Blames Iran for Saudi Oil Pipeline Attack, Cites Houthi Restraint

Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Iran was likely responsible for a recent attack on a Saudi oil pipeline, while asserting that the Houthi rebels in Yemen do not wish to engage in conflict with the United States. Trump made these remarks during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, predicting that the war with Iran would conclude shortly after the U.S. midterm elections in November, leading to a drop in oil prices. He emphasized that the U.S. controls the Strait of Hormuz and expressed confidence that the situation would be resolved amicably, noting his good relationship with the Saudi Crown Prince.

The attack targeted a strategic 1,200-kilometer oil pipeline that allows Saudi Arabia to export oil bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, a route Iran has previously threatened to disrupt. The pipeline's operation was temporarily halted due to the damage, with reports of casualties. This incident occurs amid significant advances by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and broader attacks by Houthis and Iraqi militias against Saudi Arabia, intensifying pressure on global oil shipping routes as the U.S.-Iran conflict enters its seventh month.

In related news, China's President Xi Jinping commented at the BRICS conference in New Delhi that the Middle East war has caused heavy losses and does not serve the international community's interests. Meanwhile, reports from the West Bank indicated that a Palestinian was shot in the leg by Israeli forces during a confrontation between Palestinians and settlers near the village of Fiqou'in. The IDF confirmed that its forces fired in the air and toward a Palestinian during the incident, which is currently under investigation.

Separately, the Wall Street Journal reported that Tehran possessed high-quality Chinese satellite images of the U.S. military base in Jordan, known as Tower 22, before and after a July attack that killed three American soldiers. This revelation has created tension between Washington and Beijing ahead of President Xi's upcoming visit to the U.S.

Additionally, scheduled talks between Israel and Lebanon in Rome were postponed. Instead, Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors will meet at the U.S. State Department in Washington to discuss recent developments and the implementation of their framework agreement. The next official round of talks is slated for Rome in October, with the delay attributed to Jewish holidays, an upcoming conference in Paris, and preparations for the UN General Assembly.