Saudi Arabia is reportedly pressing the United States to withdraw its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and return to negotiations. According to a Wall Street Journal report citing Saudi officials, Riyadh fears that U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to block the strait could escalate tensions with Iran and disrupt vital maritime trade routes.

The report notes that after the United States and Israel jointly launched attacks on Iran on February 28, Tehran responded by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Trump announced a blockade on Iranian ports, which began on Monday. Saudi officials warned that Iran might retaliate by closing the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a critical route for Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea.

The situation has raised regional concerns about maritime security and the potential for further escalation between the United States and Iran, with both sides reportedly considering renewed talks within days.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Iraq’s ambassador on Sunday to deliver a formal protest following allegations that attacks were launched from Iraqi territory against Saudi Arabia. According to state media reports, the ministry condemned and protested what it described as assaults originating from Iraq targeting Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. The Saudi Press Agency released a statement and a photo of the meeting between the ambassador and Saudi officials.

The statement marks one of the first formal complaints in the region suggesting that recent attacks on Gulf states may have been carried out from Iraq amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. The diplomatic move came just days after similar accusations were made by the United States.

The report also noted that Iraq has been drawn into the broader conflict, with repeated attacks targeting U.S. interests and Iran-aligned groups within its borders. Iran-backed armed factions in Iraq had claimed daily strikes on “enemy bases” but announced a suspension of operations following a temporary truce between Iran and the United States.

Saudi Arabia has announced that only the official Hajj visa will be valid for performing the annual pilgrimage. The country’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah stated that the rule applies to all pilgrims arriving from outside Saudi Arabia. The announcement was made in a statement on Sunday, emphasizing that the Hajj visa is the sole authorized means for participating in the pilgrimage.

According to a report by Saudi Gazette, visitors holding visit, transit, Umrah, or tourist visas will not be permitted to take part in Hajj rituals. The ministry clarified that such visa holders will not receive permission to perform Hajj. For residents and citizens within Saudi Arabia, the process differs slightly, requiring them to complete bookings through the “Nusuk” application to obtain a Hajj permit.

The ministry also warned that all official reservations and bookings for Hajj must be made only through authorized channels. It cautioned against using any unauthorized or fraudulent means for securing Hajj bookings.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy announced that the country has fully resumed operations of its key east-west oil pipeline following an attack on Thursday that targeted the pipeline and nearby energy infrastructure. According to the ministry, the incident had temporarily halted the transport of about 700,000 barrels of oil per day.

The ministry explained that Saudi Arabia had reduced its reliance on the Strait of Hormuz after tensions escalated between the United States, Israel, and Iran, which had nearly stalled oil shipments through the strait. As an alternative, crude oil was redirected through the east-west pipeline to a terminal on the Red Sea.

Following last week’s attack, the coastal Manifa production facility has also been reactivated, though repair work continues at the Khurais oil field within the country.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has announced new regulations to improve service quality for Hajj pilgrims and prevent harassment by accommodation and service providers in Makkah and Madinah. According to a Gulf News report published on Saturday, the new rules will impose doubled fines for repeated violations, and licenses may be permanently revoked for persistent offenders. The monitoring and enforcement period will run from the beginning of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Qi'dah until mid-Muharram.

The ministry stated that penalties will increase with each repeated offense, including during and after the Hajj season. In addition to financial fines, administrative actions such as temporary suspension or sealing of establishments may be applied. Companies found violating rules three times consecutively could lose their licenses entirely.

Fines will range from 2,000 to 14,000 riyals for hotels and accommodations, and from 1,000 to 50,000 riyals for temporary Hajj camps. The penalties are scaled according to company size, from 25 percent for small firms to 100 percent for large ones. Authorities said the measures aim to ensure maximum safety and comfort for pilgrims and reflect a zero-tolerance policy toward negligence or fraud.

Pakistan has sent military forces and fighter jets to Saudi Arabia to strengthen security under a joint defense cooperation agreement between the two countries, according to a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Defense on Saturday. The Pakistani contingent arrived at King Abdulaziz Air Base in Saudi Arabia’s eastern province, with the deployment aimed at reinforcing the bilateral defense pact.

The statement said the deployment includes Pakistan Air Force fighter and support aircraft to enhance joint military coordination and operational readiness between the two armed forces. Reuters reported, citing a senior Pakistani official and other sources, that the move followed Iranian attacks that damaged key Saudi energy infrastructure and killed a Saudi citizen. The official emphasized that Pakistan’s forces were not sent to attack anyone.

Sources added that the deployment seeks to reassure Riyadh of Islamabad’s commitment to assist in defending Saudi Arabia against future attacks. The two nations maintain long-standing ties based on strategic military cooperation, economic interests, and shared Islamic heritage, reinforced by a 2025 mutual defense pact signed by their leaders.

French President Emmanuel Macron held discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the current Middle East situation and maritime security, according to Al Jazeera. Macron stated on social media platform X that he reaffirmed his full support for the ongoing ceasefire in Lebanon, emphasizing the need for it to be fully respected and rapidly expanded.

The two leaders also discussed the urgent need to restore normal and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Macron said they agreed to maintain close communication to reduce regional tensions, ensure freedom of navigation, and work toward long-term peace and security, particularly in light of ongoing talks in Islamabad.

The conversation reflects continuing diplomatic efforts to stabilize the region and safeguard critical maritime routes amid heightened tensions and ongoing negotiations involving multiple regional actors.

A Bangladeshi worker named Mohammad Yusuf, aged 24, died after being crushed by a collapsing wall at his workplace in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The accident occurred on Friday local time while he was working at a newly constructed building. Yusuf was from Mahtabpur village in Senbagh upazila of Noakhali and had gone to Saudi Arabia only four months earlier in search of livelihood.

According to eyewitness Mohammad Hasib, the site supervisor, Yusuf was breaking a wall for electrical work at a Saudi citizen’s new house when the entire wall suddenly collapsed on him, causing his death on the spot. His body has been kept at the morgue of Dammam Hospital.

Authorities are completing the necessary legal procedures and formalities to send Yusuf’s body back to Bangladesh, the report added.

Sheikh Saleh bin Humaid, Imam of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, has urged people to refrain from spreading unverified information and rumors on social media. According to the Saudi Press Agency, he issued the warning during his Friday sermon on April 11, 2026. The Imam emphasized that those involved in creating or promoting rumors bear moral responsibility and advised worshippers to remain steadfast in their faith and avoid excessive preoccupation with worldly matters.

He further stated that spreading false or misleading information harms both individuals and society and is considered sinful. The sermon highlighted the importance of truthfulness and integrity among Muslims. Saudi authorities have intensified such warnings amid ongoing regional tensions, stressing that spreading rumors that could undermine national security and stability is a serious offense.

Official information indicates that those convicted of disseminating false information online may face up to five years in prison, fines of up to three million Saudi riyals, and confiscation of devices used in the offense. Authorities have urged the public to rely only on verified government sources for information.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy announced on Thursday that the country’s daily oil supply capacity has fallen by 700,000 barrels, equivalent to about 10 percent of its current exports, following attacks on its East-West pipeline. The ministry confirmed that one of the pipeline’s pumping stations was among the targets, disrupting the flow of crude oil across the kingdom.

This marks the first official Saudi statement acknowledging damage to its energy infrastructure caused by Iranian attacks. The announcement comes as the United States and Iran prepare for high-level peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan. The East-West pipeline has become increasingly vital for Gulf oil transport since Iran took control of the Strait of Hormuz and restricted vessel movement through the waterway.

The ministry also reported that the Manifa and Khurais oil processing centers were hit in the same wave of attacks, further straining Saudi Arabia’s energy operations.

Saudi Arabia has suspended operations at several energy facilities following recent attacks that targeted oil, gas, and electricity sites in Riyadh, the Eastern Province, and Yanbu Industrial City, according to the Saudi Press Agency citing the Ministry of Energy. The attacks resulted in the death of one Saudi industrial security worker and injuries to seven others. The disruption has reduced the kingdom’s oil production capacity by about 600,000 barrels per day.

The Saudi Press Agency reported that the attacks were part of a series of drone and missile strikes launched by Iran against Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar. These assaults have occurred in response to the US and Israeli war on Iran that began on February 28. The Ministry of Energy warned that continued attacks could further reduce supply, slow recovery, and heighten volatility in global oil markets.

Oil prices rose on Wednesday amid uncertainty over a fragile Iran-US ceasefire and the potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran had blocked during the conflict. The truce remains uncertain due to ongoing hostilities involving Israel, Lebanon, and Iran.

Iran carried out attacks on Saudi Arabia’s crucial east-west oil pipeline, according to a Reuters report citing relevant sources on Wednesday. The same sources said several other Saudi installations were also targeted. The assault may disrupt oil supply through the pipeline, and authorities are currently assessing the extent of the damage.

In a statement, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed that it used drones and missiles to strike multiple targets in the region. Among the targets were oil facilities operated by American companies located in Yanbu. Experts warned that the incident could further intensify what is already one of the world’s most severe energy crises.

The full scale of the damage and the potential impact on global oil markets are still being evaluated, with no immediate details on restoration efforts.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for a missile and drone attack on a petrochemical complex in Jubail, an industrial city in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. The IRGC said the strike targeted facilities belonging to American companies including Sadra, ExxonMobil, and Dark Chemical. It described the operation as retaliation for an earlier Israeli attack in Shiraz.

According to the report, the IRGC also stated that it targeted another petrochemical complex in Juaymah owned by the American company Shordan Phillips. The attack followed warnings from Iranian officials that any assault on Iran’s power plants or bridges would be met with similar responses against regional infrastructure. The report noted that former U.S. President Donald Trump had set a deadline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, threatening escalation if unmet.

The Saudi government has not yet issued any official comment on the incident, and details about the extent of damage or the specific weapons used remain undisclosed.

Saudi Arabia has reopened the King Fahd Causeway, the only road link connecting it with Bahrain, after a temporary closure following an Iranian airstrike. The bridge was shut down as a precaution when debris from an attack on a nearby energy facility raised concerns about potential damage. Authorities confirmed that the causeway was reopened about five hours later.

Social media updates indicated that vehicle movement across the bridge has resumed. The King Fahd Causeway spans approximately 15.5 miles, serving as a vital transportation route between the two Gulf nations.

The reopening restores a key regional connection that had been briefly disrupted by security concerns following the Iranian strike near Saudi Arabia’s Jubail petrochemical complex.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has denied involvement in the March 3 drone attack on the United States embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The organization claimed that Israel was responsible for carrying out the operation. The statement followed a Wall Street Journal report suggesting that the damage from the attack was far greater than Saudi authorities had initially disclosed.

According to that report, while Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry described the incident as a limited fire causing minor damage, the blaze reportedly lasted for several hours and caused extensive destruction. The IRGC condemned the report, asserting that Iran’s armed forces had no connection to the attack and labeling it as an act by “Zionists” consistent with Israel’s regional strategy.

The IRGC further urged Muslim nations to remain alert to what it described as “American-Zionist plots” aimed at destabilizing and destroying the region, calling for vigilance among neighboring countries.