The refinery has halted all operation following a reported drone strike in the area.

07:37, Mon, Mar 2, 2026 Updated: 07:50, Mon, Mar 2, 2026

Saudi Aramco has halted operation at the Ras Tamura refinery

Saudi Aramco has halted operation at the Ras Tamura refinery (Image: X/@NedretErsanel)

All operations have been halted by Saudi Aramco at its refinery in Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia, following a reported Iranian drone strike.

The blaze was later brought under control and described as isolated, the reports said.

Ras Tanura, located on Saudi Arabia’s eastern coast along the Gulf, is one of the kingdom’s main refining hubs within its oil infrastructure network.

Footage on social media shows large plumes of smoke rising from the site as hostilities continue to escalate in the Middle East following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The attacks on Iran have sent a chill through world markets. Shares opened sharply lower in Tokyo and Australia early on Monday and oil prices soared.

Attacks throughout the region, including on two vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, disrupt the region’s ability to export oil.

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A barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, was trading at around 79 dollars (£59) per barrel Sunday night, according to FactSet, up about 8% from Friday.