President Donald Trump said Saturday that he does not intend to enter into a conflict with the Iran-backed Houthi militant group as the group’s advance along Yemen’s western coast threatens a key shipping route and Saudi Arabia’s oil exports face disruptions.
“We have had discussions. The Houthis called us, and they don’t want to fight with us,” Trump told reporters while visiting Ireland. “They don’t want us to go after them and would much prefer not having us involved.”
His comments came as Saudi Arabia temporarily shut down its strategic East-West oil pipeline after it was targeted in multiple attacks that injured several people. Saudi officials said the pipeline was shut down as a precaution while emergency crews assessed the damage.
The roughly 750-mile pipeline, also known as Petroline, carries crude from Saudi Arabia’s oil-producing regions in the east to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, allowing the kingdom to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia has relied on the pipeline as Iran has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi Arabia has attributed the latest attacks to drones launched from Iraq, where Iran-backed militias operate. Trump said Saturday that he believed Iran was “probably” responsible for the attack.
“I think they are, probably they are,” Trump said. “They are on the balls of their feet right now.”
At the same time, the Houthis have seized strategic territory near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, including the island of Perim, tightening their grip on another critical maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The group’s advances have raised concerns over commercial shipping and added pressure to global energy markets.
Trump also said he had spoken with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom he called “a good friend.”
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“I can just say everything’s going to work out fine and dandy. It’s going to be great,” Trump said.
Asked when the war with Iran would end, Trump said he expected it to conclude “very soon after the midterms” and reiterated that “Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon.” He also predicted that energy prices would “come tumbling down” once the war ends.