- Saudi Aramco has suspended operations at its 550,000 bpd Ras Tanura refinery after a drone strike
- The refinery is one of the Middle East’s largest and a critical Saudi crude export terminal
- The strike is linked to Iran’s retaliation following coordinated U.S.-Israel attacks on Iranian targets
Saudi Aramco has suspended operations at its 550,000 barrels-per-day Ras Tanura refinery in the kingdom’s Eastern Province following a drone attack reportedly linked to Iran’s retaliatory operations across the Gulf.
According to Reuters, the precautionary shutdown was carried out after the strike targeted the strategic coastal facility, which functions as both a major refining hub and one of Saudi Arabia’s most important crude export terminals.
Industry sources told Reuters that operations at Ras Tanura were halted as a safety measure.
“Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Aramco shut its Ras Tanura refinery following a drone strike, an industry source said on Monday, after Tehran launched strikes across the region in response to the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran.”
“The Ras Tanura complex, on the kingdom’s Gulf coast, houses one of the Middle East’s largest refineries with a capacity of 550,000 barrels per day (bpd) and serves as a critical export terminal for Saudi crude.”
Sources added that the situation was under control at the time of the shutdown.
The refinery, located in Ras Tanura town along the Gulf coast, plays a central role in Saudi Arabia’s oil export system.
Its temporary closure comes amid heightened tensions following coordinated military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets last Saturday.
Those strikes reportedly triggered explosions and smoke plumes across Tehran and other Iranian cities.
Israeli officials described the operation as preventive, while U.S. authorities said it was aimed at neutralising imminent threats linked to Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes. CNN cited sources indicating that Washington planned several days of strikes targeting Iranian military and nuclear facilities.
In response, Iran confirmed retaliatory strikes on U.S. assets in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Some missiles were intercepted, and only minor damage was reported in certain locations. Saudi Arabia also said it repelled attempted attacks on Riyadh and parts of its eastern region.
The drone strike on Ras Tanura coincided with reported attacks on Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Manama and Duqm in Oman.
Shipping operations in the UAE and Oman were disrupted, further intensifying concerns about energy supply chains.
Brent crude futures climbed about 10 per cent on Monday following the developments.
Shipping activity in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz slowed significantly, with several tankers reportedly avoiding the region.
Bloomberg reported that some vessels reversed course, while others delayed entry after an alleged Iranian broadcast restricting passage through the waterway.
Some shipowners interpreted U.S. advisories as effectively signalling a temporary closure of the strait.
Vessel-tracking data showed seven ships exiting and six entering the Strait of Hormuz despite the heightened security alerts.
The Strait of Hormuz is responsible for roughly one-fifth of global seaborne oil and liquefied natural gas shipments daily, making it one of the world’s most strategically vital maritime corridors.
The disruption marks the first significant impact on global energy flows since the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, raising fresh concerns about supply stability and potential price volatility. Countries including Japan and Greece have reportedly advised their shipping fleets to reconsider transiting the strait.
Regional and international stakeholders have also voiced alarm over the escalating crisis.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), through its Chairman Julius Maada Bio, warned that intensifying hostilities could have far-reaching implications for global trade, peace and food security, and called for renewed diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions.
Meanwhile, Israel has imposed heightened security measures, including closing schools, relocating hospital patients underground and banning public gatherings, as strikes and counterstrikes continue across the region.
The situation remains fluid, with significant implications for global energy markets and geopolitical stability.