Iranian official: Plans to attack crude oil export facilities aimed at hitting Trump before the US midterm elections

Odaily Planet Daily News A senior Iranian official said that Tehran is planning to launch an economic war, including attacks on oil bypass export facilities in the Gulf region, aimed at pushing up US gasoline prices and hitting the approval ratings of Trump's party before the US November midterm elections. According to the official, the targets of this plan will include two main alternative routes used by shippers to avoid the Strait of Hormuz: Saudi Arabia's Yanbu oil pipeline and the UAE's Fujairah oil terminal. These two facilities together handle about 5.5 million barrels of oil per day. If Iran also cuts off the approximately 5 million barrels per day of oil currently transported through the Strait of Hormuz by the US-backed "shadow fleet," a successful operation would weaken a considerable portion of alternative transport capacity, and it is precisely these channels that have maintained part of Gulf oil exports against the backdrop of broader blockades. Given that Brent crude prices are already close to $93 per barrel under current tensions, any credible action against Yanbu or Fujairah could be viewed by traders as a shock far greater than previous supply disruptions. (Jin Shi)