Kuwait Cuts Oil Production Amid Gulf Tensions

Kuwait announced on Saturday a precautionary reduction in its oil production and refining operations amid escalating threats from Iran that have effectively halted tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway for global energy exports.

The state-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corporation stated the move responds to repeated Iranian attacks on the country and risks to shipping in the Persian Gulf. Officials described the adjustment as a risk management step to ensure business continuity, without disclosing the exact volume of the cut. Kuwait, the fifth-largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, maintained output of about 2.6 million barrels per day earlier this year. The corporation emphasized that the reduction is temporary and that it stands ready to restore full production once security conditions improve.

The decision stems from a week-old conflict that has disrupted energy flows across the Gulf region. A U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, launched on February 28, prompted Tehran to retaliate with missiles and drones targeting Israel and Gulf states hosting American forces. Those strikes damaged civilian infrastructure,...