The United Arab Emirates foreign ministry issued a formal condemnation on Saturday regarding a hostile missile attack by Iran against a tanker owned by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). The vessel was transiting the Strait of Hormuz at the time of the incident, which officials reported resulted in no casualties.
ADNOC disclosed that the incident is part of a broader pattern of hostility, noting that 15 of its vessels have been targeted in the Strait of Hormuz since the current war began. The company specified that three of those attacks occurred within the past week alone. Prior to the regional conflict initiated by US-Israeli strikes in February, the Strait of Hormuz served as a vital maritime corridor, facilitating the transport of approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas.
The incident coincides with ongoing diplomatic discussions between Iran and Oman regarding the future management of the strait. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that these negotiations are nearing their final stages but emphasized that this progress does not indicate an immediate reopening of the waterway. According to Araghchi, the reopening remains contingent upon external conditions and compensation for what he described as a violation of a memorandum of understanding by the United States, referencing a June agreement meant to establish terms for peace talks.
The Iranian military reinforced this stance, asserting that the status of the Strait of Hormuz is governed by its own specific mechanisms and is independent of the ongoing talks with Oman. Military officials stated that the enemy is being compelled to accept Iranian conditions for the strait's operation and must refrain from interfering in the current negotiations involving Iran, Oman, and other international partners.
