Consider the following statements : Statement-I : Sumed pipeline is a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to Europe. Statement-II : Sumed pipeline connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Statement-I is correct. The SUMED (Suez-Mediterranean) Pipeline is a strategic oil pipeline in Egypt. It provides an alternative to the Suez Canal for large oil tankers that are too big to pass through the canal fully loaded. It plays a crucial role in transporting crude oil from the Persian Gulf (loaded at the Red Sea end) to the Mediterranean Sea (where it can be loaded onto tankers for Europe), thus serving as a vital route for Persian Gulf oil shipments to Europe. Statement-II is correct. The SUMED pipeline connects the Ain Sokhna terminal on the Red Sea to the Sidi Kerir terminal on the Mediterranean Sea, west of Alexandria. This direct physical connection between the two seas makes it a bypass route for the Suez Canal for certain large vessels, enabling efficient oil transport. Furthermore, Statement-II directly explains Statement-I. The fact that the pipeline connects the Red Sea (entry point for Persian Gulf oil) to the Mediterranean Sea (exit point towards Europe) is precisely *why* it serves as a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil shipments to Europe. It facilitates the movement of oil that might otherwise face constraints through the Suez Canal. Therefore, both statements are correct, and Statement-II explains Statement-I.