UAE Condemns Iranian Attack on Oil Tanker
Tensions escalate in the Strait of Hormuz. An ADNOC vessel was hit by a missile, and the UAE accuses Tehran of endangering a critical route for global energy supplies.
Tensions escalate in the Strait of Hormuz. An ADNOC vessel was hit by a missile, and the UAE accuses Tehran of endangering a critical route for global energy supplies.
The United Arab Emirates on Saturday strongly condemned what it described as a "hostile Iranian attack" on a vessel linked to its state-owned oil company, ADNOC, as it transited the Strait of Hormuz. The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Tehran of "acts of piracy," further escalating tensions in one of the world's most vital maritime corridors.
According to a report by the state news agency WAM, ADNOC announced earlier on Saturday that one of its vessels had been struck by a projectile. The situation was brought under control, the company said, but no details were provided about the tanker, its cargo, or potential damage. There were no injuries in the incident.
The ministry stated that the attack violates a UN Security Council resolution on freedom of navigation and directly accused Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of using the waterway as a tool of economic pressure. "These are acts of piracy targeting commercial shipping," the condemnation read, along with a call for Iran to immediately halt attacks and unconditionally reopen the strait.
ADNOC, the Abu Dhabi-based oil giant and one of the world's largest energy producers, reported on Friday significant consequences from unprovoked attacks on its personnel and assets. The company said that since the start of the conflict, which began with the US-Israeli war against Iran on February 28, 2026, as many as 15 of its vessels have been attacked with missiles and drones during transits through the strait. Three such incidents were recorded this week alone.
These attacks have claimed the life of one crew member, while 20 others have been injured. In its Friday statement, ADNOC did not identify those responsible for the attacks but emphasized that it continues to meet customer demands in an "extremely challenging environment."
"The company has been significantly impacted by unprovoked attacks on personnel and assets, yet it continues to meet customer demands in an extremely challenging environment," ADNOC said.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Oman and Iran, is vital to global energy security. Before the escalation of the conflict, roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passed through it. Since the war began, shipping has been repeatedly disrupted, leading to rising freight rates and serious security concerns. The Iranian Guards have previously threatened action against vessels linked to Tehran's adversaries or those that do not follow Iranian directives.
