City
Epaper

MBS warns of 'Iran threat' to global oil prices

By IANS | Published: September 30, 2019 11:24 AM

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman has warned that oil prices could increase to "unimaginably high numbers" if the world does not act to deter Iran, the media reported on Monday.

Open in App

The BBC quoted the Crown Prince as saying in a CBS News interview on Sunday that a war between Saudi Arabia and Iran would ruin the global economy, following the September 14 drone attacks on a major oil field and a petroleum processing facility in the Kingdom, which it blames on Tehran.

"If the world does not take a strong and firm action to deter Iran, we will see further escalations that will threaten world interests.

"Oil supplies will be disrupted and oil prices will jump to unimaginably high numbers that we haven't seen in our lifetimes," the Crown Prince said.

He said that the Middle East region "represents about 30 per cent of the world's energy supplies, about 20 per cent of global trade passages, about 4 per cent of the world GDP".

"Imagine all of these three things stop. This means a total collapse of the global economy, and not just Saudi Arabia or the Middle East countries," the Crown Prince added.

The September 14 attacks were carried out by 18 drones and seven cruise missiles.

It hit the Hijra Khurais - one of Saudi Arabia's largest oil fields, producing about 1.5 million barrels a day - and Abqaiq, the world's biggest crude stabilization facility, which processes seven million barrels of Saudi oil a day, or about 8 per cent of the world's total output.

The attack disrupted about half of the Kingdom's oil capacity, or 5 per cent of the daily global oil supply.

The oil field and the processing facility belonged to the state energy company Aramco, which is the world's largest oil producer.

Yemen's Houthi rebels have said they were behind the attacks. But Saudi Arabia and its Western allies have blamed Iran, a claim which Tehran has strongly denied.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: Saudi ArabiaCrown PrinceirantehranKingdom
Open in App

Related Stories

Social ViralSaudi Arabia: Wives Gift Third Wife to 70-Year-Old Husband in Taif, Make Wedding Arrangements

InternationalIran’s Supreme Leader Praises Armed Forces for Retaliation Against Israel

InternationalIran – Isreal War: Disputes Reports of First Delivery of Russian Su-35 Fighter Jets

InternationalIraq: Two Iraqi Military Bases Bombed by Unknown Aircraft Near Baghdad; Watch Video

InternationalAmid Israel-Iran Tensions, Biden Administration Weighs Sending USD 1 Billion More in Weapons to Israel: Report

International Realted Stories

InternationalUnited States Police in Wisconsin District Shot and Kills Armed Teenager Outside School, Say Officials

InternationalPakistan: Islamabad Court reserves verdict on Bushra Bibi's plea seeking transfer from Bani Gala sub-jail to Adiala jail

InternationalFarmers raise concerns about impact of snowfall in Afghanistan's Bamyan

InternationalSolomon Islands elects pro-China leader Jeremiah Manele as new prime minister

InternationalRussian Missile Attack Claims 5 Lives in Odesa, ‘Harry Potter Castle’ Engulfed