In a sudden development, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince bin Salman is reportedly advising United States President Donald Trump to maintain pressure on Iran, calling on Washington to "continue to hit the Iranians hard." This information was conveyed by White House officials to the New York Times. This stance mirrors the policy previously followed by the late Saudi King Abdullah, who repeatedly urged the United States to "cut off the head of the snake," referring to the Iranian regime.
At the same time, the Saudi Prince held talks with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, amid growing questions over whether Gulf states will continue to avoid an open confrontation with Tehran. According to Al-Arabiya, the two leaders expressed deep concern over Iran's actions, arguing that Tehran's "unjust attacks against the Gulf Cooperation Council countries constitute a dangerous escalation that threatens the security and stability of the region."
Furthermore, they underlined that the Gulf states will continue to strengthen their defense capabilities and use all available resources to protect their territories and maintain regional stability. However, despite the rising tensions and more than 2,000 missile and drone attacks reportedly launched by Iran against targets in the Gulf in recent weeks, regional states have so far avoided a direct military response.
According to Gulf sources speaking to the Jerusalem Post, one of the primary reasons for this stance is concern over the consequences of a broad conflict, particularly regarding "the day after." Additionally, Gulf governments fear that a direct attack on Iran could lead to a massive escalation, with Tehran expanding its strikes to target critical infrastructure, cities, and energy facilities throughout the region.
Prince Salman changes the global energy map – The mega project to shake oil markets
Meanwhile, the increasing tension in the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of global maritime oil transport passes, brings back to the forefront an ambitious Saudi Arabian plan that could radically alter global energy flows. Riyadh is reactivating the King Salman Canal project, a giant infrastructure undertaking that would connect the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea, completely bypassing the strategically vulnerable Strait of Hormuz.
The project, estimated to cost up to 250 billion dollars, is part of Saudi Arabia's ambitious Vision 2030 program, aiming not only to enhance the country's energy security but also to transform it into one of the most important global logistics and trade hubs between East and West. The proposed canal would be approximately 950 to 960 kilometers long and would cross Saudi territory from east to west, allowing large tankers and container ships to pass without needing to traverse Hormuz.
The initiative gains particular importance at a time when navigation in the Persian Gulf is under increasing pressure due to geopolitical tension in the region. Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser warned that disruptions to navigation in the strait could have severe consequences for the global oil market and the world economy. "The longer the disruptions continue, the more devastating the impacts will be for the energy market," he stated.
Pipelines already bypassing Hormuz
At the same time, certain energy infrastructures that bypass the Strait of Hormuz are already in operation. These include:
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The East–West Pipeline (Trans-Saudi Pipeline) of Saudi Arabia, approximately 1,260 km long, which carries oil from the Eastern Province fields to the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea. Its maximum capacity reaches 5 million barrels per day.
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The ADCOP pipeline of the United Arab Emirates, which carries oil to the port of Fujairah on the Arabian Sea, with a capacity of approximately 1.8 million barrels per day.
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The Al Haba pipeline connecting the UAE to the port of Sohar in Oman.
According to estimates from the International Energy Agency (IEA), these alternative routes can transport a total of 3.6 to 5.6 million barrels of oil per day, an amount corresponding to less than 30% of the normal flow through the Strait of Hormuz.
New projects and geopolitical challenges
In recent years, new pipeline projects have also been proposed, such as:
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A pipeline of approximately 650 km from Qatar to Oman.
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A new branch of approximately 600 km toward the Gulf of Aqaba, near the Suez Canal.
However, most of these projects remain at the planning stage. Meanwhile, the increasing military tension in the region creates significant risks for energy infrastructure.
Risk to the global economy
Prolonged instability in the Persian Gulf could lead to serious implications for the global economy. Disruptions in energy supply may affect many sectors, from aviation and shipping to agriculture and manufacturing. Some analysts even warn of the possibility of stagflation—a combination of low growth and high inflation—if the crisis persists. In this context, projects like the King Salman Canal could provide long-term solutions, although their implementation remains uncertain.
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