Iran targeted tanker, says UAE, as Tehran says Hormuz deal with Oman close

UAE officials claim Iran launched an attack on a tanker operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) as it navigated through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. Iran has been blocking the strait and reportedly seeks to charge vessels for passage. The United States opposes this move and is engaged in discussions with nearby Oman regarding future management of the strait.

The UAE's foreign ministry strongly condemned the "hostile Iranian attack" on the ADNOC tanker, asserting no casualties resulted from the missile strike. ADNOC had reported on Friday that 15 of its vessels had been targeted in Hormuz since the onset of the conflict, with three vessels attacked this week alone. Prior to February's US-Israeli strikes, the strait facilitated approximately a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas transportation.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Saturday that talks with Oman were nearing completion, but emphasized that these talks do not signal the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. He cited the June 2022 agreement between the US and Iran to establish terms for peace negotiations as a prerequisite for the strait's reopening.

The Revolutionary Guards, Iran's military arm, reiterated on Saturday that the opening of the strait is contingent upon Iran's terms and their opponents' cessation of interference in the ongoing negotiations. These talks have nearly concluded between Iran, Oman, and other stakeholders. Oman informed on Saturday that its negotiations with Iran on managing the Strait of Hormuz are "positive and constructive," yet cautioned against repeated attacks on shipping as Iran continues its blockade of the crucial waterway.

Oman's foreign ministry denounced "repeated attacks on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz," without specifying Iran, and urged against actions that could impede ongoing negotiations regarding navigation arrangements in the strait.