Security policy and defense analyst Wolfgang Pushtaui stated that the drone attacks on Saudi Arabian oil pipelines were carried out by Iranian proxies in Iraq on behalf of Iran. He believes the attacks were most likely ordered by Tehran. From Tehran's perspective, this supports the Houthi rebels' war objective in Yemen, namely forcing Saudi Arabia to withdraw from Yemen. Pushtaui said the greater the pressure Saudi Arabia feels due to the attacks, the more likely it is to withdraw from Yemen. On the other hand, this undoubtedly strengthens Iran's own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran will no longer allow Saudi Arabia to bypass it. This sends a signal to Saudi Arabia, and likely to other Gulf states, that Iran is not trustworthy.
