According to the Financial Times, Gulf states are re-evaluating costly pipeline projects to bypass the Strait of Hormuz and ensure oil and gas exports, citing the threat of Iran's potential long-term control over this shipping chokepoint. Government officials and industry executives point out that while the pipeline project is expensive, politically complex, and time-consuming, it may be the only way to reduce the Gulf states' dependence on the strait. The current conflict further highlights the strategic value of Saudi Arabia's 1,200-kilometer-long East-West Pipeline. Built in the 1980s to address concerns about the strait's closure due to the Iran-Iraq Tanker War, it has become a vital lifeline, transporting 7 million barrels of crude oil daily to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, completely bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia is currently considering how to export more crude oil via the pipeline, with options including expanding the East-West Pipeline's capacity or opening new routes. (Jinshi)