Tertius News is an AI-native newsroom: an AI model reads the linked source articles below and extracts what each outlet reported, so you can compare their coverage side by side. How this works →

Gulf countries considering new oil export routes — FT

According to the Financial Times, Gulf countries are exploring alternative oil export routes—including pipelines, roads, and railways—to bypass the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing conflict with Iran. The proposals, which could take years and require significant investment, are driven by recent disruptions and Iran's closure of the strait to certain vessels. The US-led IMEC project connecting India to the Mediterranean is among the options under discussion.

By Tertius News AI Desk 2 outlets · 2 articles Version 1 Coverage Apr 2, 2026 Published Aug 13

Coverage Comparison

Gulf states are reportedly considering new oil export routes to reduce their reliance on the Strait of Hormuz, the vital Persian Gulf waterway through which a significant share of global oil shipments pass. The Financial Times (FT), cited by both the Jerusalem Post and Russia's state news agency TASS, reported that a combination of pipelines, roads, and railways is being explored as a long-term solution to the vulnerabilities exposed by the ongoing conflict between Iran and a US-Israel-led military operation.

Both the Jerusalem Post and TASS attribute the information to FT's report, which has not been independently verified by other outlets at this time. The two sources frame the development slightly differently: the Jerusalem Post emphasizes the diversification of oil exports as a strategic move, while TASS presents it in the context of supply disruptions stemming from the military confrontation that began on February 28.

Key Claims

Multiple Gulf states are pursuing alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz. Both the Jerusalem Post and TASS report, citing FT, that Gulf countries are examining the construction of new pipelines and other infrastructure to bypass the strait. The sources agree that such projects would be costly and take years to complete, but the current crisis has renewed interest.

Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline is a model and an expansion candidate. The FT report, as relayed by TASS, notes that the region is discussing expanding existing capacity, including the Saudi Arabian East-West pipeline, which connects oil fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, bypassing the strait. The Jerusalem Post quotes a senior Gulf energy executive calling the pipeline "a genius masterstroke" in hindsight, though this is a single-source quote and not an objective assessment.

The US-led IMEC project is a central option. The FT report, as summarized by the Jerusalem Post, mentions the IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe) corridor, which aims to connect India to the Mediterranean via a network of roads, railways, and pipelines. The project is in early stages and would require significant international cooperation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has endorsed rerouting pipelines. The Jerusalem Post reports that Netanyahu stated that rerouting pipelines to gain easier access to the Mediterranean could be a long-term solution to the Strait of Hormuz crisis. This claim is attributed solely to the Jerusalem Post and has not been corroborated by other sources.

Perspectives

Strait of Hormuz risk and the push for diversification: The conflict has exposed the strait's vulnerability. According to TASS, Iran closed the strait to vessels linked to the US, Israel, and countries that supported the military action against it. This has disrupted oil shipments, making alternative routes more attractive despite their costs and complexity. The Jerusalem Post notes that Saudi Arabia has remained a steady exporter partly because of the East-West pipeline, underscoring the value of redundancy.

Geopolitical implications and regional infrastructure: The proposed solutions are not limited to pipelines. The FT report, as cited, suggests the creation of a comprehensive network of pipelines, trains, and roads. The US-led IMEC project would link India to the Mediterranean, potentially passing through the Arabian Peninsula and involving Israel. Such projects could reshape regional trade dynamics, but their realization depends on the resolution of the current conflict and the cooperation of multiple nations, including those with vested interests in the status quo.

The role of the current conflict: The catalysts for these considerations are the military operations and retaliatory strikes described by TASS. The conflict has led Iran to restrict access to the strait for certain nations, and several tankers have been attacked. These events have heightened the urgency for alternative routes, but they also create an unstable environment for infrastructure investments. As the situation evolves, decisions on new projects will hinge on the trajectory of the crisis, according to the sources cited.

How each outlet told it

Jerusalem Post as of Apr 2, 2026, 6:30 AM UTC

Framing: Gulf states seeking alternative oil export routes — Informative

Facts Included:

Gulf states considering expanding oil pipelines beyond the Strait of Hormuz
New network of pipelines, roads, and railways to reduce dependence on the Strait
Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline as a model
US-led IMEC project to connect India to the Mediterranean Sea
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement on rerouting pipelines

Read the source article →

TASS — English as of Apr 2, 2026, 7:45 AM UTC

Framing: Gulf countries exploring alternative oil export routes amid conflict — Neutral

Facts Included:

Gulf countries considering building oil pipelines bypassing the Strait of Hormuz
New routes to reduce dependence on the strait
US and Israel's military operation against Iran
Iran's retaliatory strikes and closure of the Strait of Hormuz

Read the source article →

What was claimed, and who backed it

Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status counts the distinct outlets we found asserting it — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.

Claim	Confidence	Status
ClaimGulf states are considering expanding their oil pipelines beyond the Strait of Hormuz to bypass dependence on the crucial Persian Gulf waterway for exports.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusMulti-source quoted from Jerusalem Post as of Apr 2, 2026, 6:30 AM UTC the outlets behind this status were not recorded for this claim
ClaimA new network of pipelines, roads, and railways could reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusMulti-source quoted from Jerusalem Post as of Apr 2, 2026, 6:30 AM UTC the outlets behind this status were not recorded for this claim
ClaimSaudi Arabia's East-West pipeline connects its oil fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu and bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via Jerusalem Post as of Apr 2, 2026, 6:30 AM UTC
ClaimThe US-led IMEC project aims to connect India to the Mediterranean Sea via a network of roads, railways, and pipelines.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via Jerusalem Post as of Apr 2, 2026, 6:30 AM UTC
ClaimPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that rerouting pipelines to gain easier access to the Mediterranean could be a long-term solution to the Strait of Hormuz crisis.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via Jerusalem Post as of Apr 2, 2026, 6:30 AM UTC
ClaimThe US and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via TASS — English as of Apr 2, 2026, 7:45 AM UTC
ClaimIran launched retaliatory strikes against Israel and US military facilities in several countries.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via TASS — English as of Apr 2, 2026, 7:45 AM UTC
ClaimIran closed the Strait of Hormuz to vessels linked to the US, Israel, and countries that supported the aggression against the Islamic Republic.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via TASS — English as of Apr 2, 2026, 7:45 AM UTC

Transparency & Audit Trail

2 outlets · 2 articles consulted: Jerusalem Post, TASS — English 8 claims extracted Version 1 Written 2026-08-13