UAE condemns ‘hostile Iranian attack’ on two ADNOC vessels in Strait of Hormuz

The United Arab Emirates announced on Saturday that Iran had attacked one of its vessels while it was passing through the Strait of Hormuz the previous day, according to Emirati state news agency WAM. ADNOC, the Emirati state oil company, reported no injuries and stated that the situation was under control. The UAE's foreign ministry urged Tehran to cease what it called unprovoked attacks, end hostilities, and fully reopen the waterway. No response was received from Iran.

This attack marked the third incident involving an ADNOC vessel in less than a week, and the UAE had accused Iran of being behind the earlier incidents. Anwar Gargash, the UAE's diplomatic adviser to the president, vowed that Abu Dhabi would defend its sovereignty and interests in response to the repeated attacks on ADNOC vessels. Gargash emphasized the importance of safeguarding rights to freedom of navigation while continuing to pursue diplomatic options.

Separately, the United Kingdom's Maritime Trade Operations agency reported receiving a similar incident report on Friday, involving a bulk carrier struck by an unknown projectile in the strait. It was unclear whether the same ADNOC vessel was involved. The Strait of Hormuz, which separates Oman and Iran, is a crucial route for about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas.

Since the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began on February 28, shipping disruptions have become frequent, causing freight rates to rise and raising security concerns.