Iran Denies Targeting Saudi Oil Facility After Ras Tanura Fire

RIYADH: Iran has denied targeting Saudi oil infrastructure after reports of a fire at the Ras Tanura Refinery following the interception of two drones, with shrapnel said to have fallen near the facility.

Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said in a post on X that two drones struck the United States Embassy Riyadh, resulting in a limited fire and some material damage, according to an initial assessment. Authorities later allowed media access to inspect oil facilities reportedly hit in the attacks, showing damaged pipes and burnt equipment.

Washington and Riyadh have blamed Tehran for the incident, while Iran has firmly rejected the accusation.

In an interview with CNN, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said: “We are not responsible for that. We have already been in touch with our Saudi brothers and we have talked about this issue. Iran is not responsible for the attack on the oil installations in Saudi Arabia. We have officially announced today that that was not one of the targets of the Iranian armed forces.”

The reported drone incident comes amid ongoing Iranian missile and drone strikes on Gulf states hosting US military bases, following US and Israeli strikes on Iran on Saturday. Tehran has warned of broader retaliation if tensions escalate further.

However, Reuters reported that it was not immediately able to independently confirm the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The developments mark a further escalation in regional tensions, raising concerns about the security of critical energy infrastructure and the risk of wider confrontation in the Gulf.