The United Arab Emirates has accused Iran of attacking a vessel belonging to state-owned oil giant ADNOC while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
ADNOC confirmed that one of its vessels came under attack on the evening of Friday, August 14. The company said no injuries were reported, while stressing the need to protect seafarers and ensure freedom of navigation and maritime security.
The UAE Foreign Ministry condemned the incident, describing it as a “hostile Iranian attack” targeting a vessel affiliated with ADNOC. It also accused Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps of using the Strait of Hormuz as a tool of economic pressure.
UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said the repeated attacks would not stop the country from pursuing what he described as a balanced policy based on deterrence, diplomacy and international law.
He also called for a unified position among Gulf countries to protect regional security and their economic interests.
The latest incident comes a day after the UAE accused Iran of attacking two other vessels linked to ADNOC as they passed through the strait. No injuries were reported in those attacks.
ADNOC said last week that three of its tankers had been attacked in the waterway, while the Emirati government later reported another attack on an ADNOC tanker.
The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, is a major route for global energy supplies.
Tensions in the waterway have increased since the conflict between Iran and the United States began, with Iran imposing an effective blockade and demanding payment from vessels seeking passage.
Iranian official Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr has also outlined conditions for fully reopening the strait, including an end to what he described as the war against Iran and its regional allies, the lifting of sanctions and compensation for wartime damage.
The continued attacks have further complicated efforts to maintain a ceasefire and reach a lasting settlement between Iran and the United States.
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