Iraq Shuts Borders with Iran and Launches Investigation Following Drone Strikes on Saudi Oil Pipeline

Iraq has closed several border crossings with Iran as authorities investigate drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline, which officials confirmed were launched from Iraqi territory.

The Iraqi government temporarily shut three border crossings after discovering drone launch sites within the country, an Iraqi security source disclosed to Al Jazeera on Saturday. Reporting from Baghdad, Al Jazeera’s Jack Hewson identified the closed crossings as Shalamcheh in Basra province, al-Shib in Maysan province, and Mandali in Diyala province. Hewson noted that the primary motivation behind the closures was to prevent the attackers from escaping into Iran.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi accepted a proposal from Iran to conduct a joint investigation into the discovery of these drone launch platforms near the border, according to a statement released Saturday by Sabah al-Numan, spokesman for the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi armed forces. Although the statement omitted specific details regarding the exact number or location of the drones, the prime minister’s office previously stated that the assault originated from the southeastern province of Maysan, prompting the dismissal of the local military commander there. An ongoing search operation is currently active in the al-Tayyib area of Maysan following the discovery of the launch equipment.

The strike on the East-West oil pipeline occurred on Thursday, leading Saudi Arabia to announce a temporary suspension of the route as a precautionary measure the following day. Riyadh stated that the drones originated from Iraq, where Iran wields significant influence over local armed groups. No faction has officially claimed responsibility for the incident. However, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), an umbrella organization of Iran-backed armed fighters, released a statement describing the attack as "an honour that we do not claim." Saudi Arabia has frequently accused Iran-linked factions in Iraq of targeting its vital energy infrastructure.

United States President Donald Trump, currently on an unofficial visit to Ireland, asserted that Tehran was "probably" behind the pipeline strikes, though he presented no evidence to support his claims. The temporary shutdown of the pipeline delivers a major setback to Saudi Arabia, as the route serves as the kingdom's only primary alternative to the Strait of Hormuz amidst ongoing control disputes between the US and Iran. Without this operational pipeline, Riyadh lacks a viable alternative for large-scale oil exports until the suspension ends or the strait reopens. Any reduction in Gulf oil supplies risks driving up wholesale prices while bolstering Iran's strategic leverage.