Saudi Arabia’s Key Pipeline Has Been Shut Down. Energy Secretary Wright Says It Will Reopen Soon.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the Saudi East-West pipeline will take days, rather than weeks, to resume pumping after sustaining multiple attacks last week.

Speaking to CNBC, Wright said "this will be a brief and temporary interruption" that will be "measured in days."

Riyahd's ability to reopen the pipeline will be key for the already strained global energy industry, considering that about 4% of the global oil supply flows through it.

Wright's assessment differs from a source familiar with the matter who earlier this week told Reuters that that Riyadh could take up to six weeks to fix the pipeline if it doesn't get hit again. Another estimate claimed that the work could take less and partial pumping could resume as well.

Riyadh shut down the pipeline on Friday. Citing an official source at the Ministry of Energy, the country said that the attacks "resulted in a number of injuries, and medical care was provided to those affected."

Oil prices have kept climbing as energy flows remain disrupted as hostilities in the Middle East continue to escalate, particularly between Yemen's Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia.

A Houthi official said that three people were killed and two more injured as a result of Saudi strikes in the country. The Iran-backed group has recently made substantial gains in the Red Sea and strengthened its embargo on Saudi oil transiting the waterway.

Elsewhere, a meeting between Gulf countries to discuss the reopening of the Hormuz Strait was postponed. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said on Sunday that "In the interests of consensus the regional meeting set for tomorrow in Salalah has been postponed."

"We remain committed to fostering dialogue that supports stability and lasting cooperation in our region," the minister added. He did not specify whether a new date had been set.

A regional source with knowledge of the matter told CNN that diplomats hoped the meeting would create momentum for a potential deal even if countries still don't fully agree on a framework that could ultimately allow Iran and Oman to collect fees for passage.

However, Saudi Arabia had submitted amendments to the framework over concerns that it could a new status quo that wouldn't be acceptable to other countries. While mandatory fees are rejected, there was willingness to consider voluntary contributions.

Iran, in turn, informed that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will visit China on Wednesday, where he will meet with counterpart Wang Yi.