Need an ELI5 on this. Feels like UAE/Oman could build a giant Tunnel Boring Machine and build a high capacity pipeline out to the sea. And/or Saudi could build the infra to transfer more capacity than a couple boats out there.

I'm intentionally underselling this effort but genuinely curious.

Above ground pipeline seems like it would be difficult to defend, and easy to poke a hole into. I’m guessing a TBM to create an underground pipeline would take decades and billions of $$.

Tens of billions USD worth of infra that will become obsolete before it is ready (TBM is slooow) as things sort itself out in one way or another. Either Iran run out of drones, USA steps back, or Israel and Gulf countries find someone to pay for a full scale ground operation. Not that that the last two would do any good for the humanity, but Hormuz would be the least of our problems for sure.

I guess cause when things return to normal no one will use it.