On August 14, 2026, the United Arab Emirates strongly condemned an Iranian attack on two tankers belonging to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in the Strait of Hormuz, labelling the incident as “piracy” perpetrated by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
UAE’s Strong Response
The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement through the social media platform X, expressing its deep condemnation and denunciation of what it termed “the aggressive Iranian attack” on the ADNOC tankers while they were transiting the critical Strait of Hormuz. Fortunately, the incident did not result in any injuries.
Violation of International Law
The ministry highlighted that the assault constituted a flagrant violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2817, which emphasises the importance of freedom of navigation and the rejection of attacks on commercial vessels or disruptions of international marine routes. The UAE reaffirmed that using the Strait of Hormuz as a lever for economic pressure or coercion qualifies as piracy by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, representing a direct threat to regional stability, the welfare of its peoples, and global energy security.
Calls for De-escalation
The UAE has urged Iran to cease these “aggressive attacks,” asserting the necessity for the Iranian government to fully commit to halting all hostilities and ensuring the complete and unconditional reopening of the strait. This action is deemed essential for maintaining the security of the region and the stability of global trade and economies.
Details of the Incident
Earlier that Thursday, ADNOC announced that its vessels had fallen victim to an attack during their passage through the Strait of Hormuz. According to the official Emirates News Agency, the company affirmed that the incident did not lead to any injuries, and the situation was brought under control swiftly.
Strategic Maritime Tensions
As tensions escalate between the United States and Iran, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz—a critical passageway for global energy supplies—has heightened concerns over potential disruptions to navigation and energy supplies, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at establishing mutual agreements on freedom of navigation in this strategic maritime corridor.
Recent Escalations and Diplomatic Efforts
Between July 8 and July 24, the United States commenced a series of attacks on Iranian positions, to which Iran retaliated with strikes on what it claimed were American military sites in various Arab nations, including Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Following these developments, Iran resumed talks with Oman to establish safe passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
These actions followed a memorandum of understanding signed between Washington and Tehran on June 18, which initiated negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive agreement. However, discussions stalled due to disputes concerning the assurance of safety and freedom of navigation in the Strait—one of the most important global supply routes for energy and trade.
In a prior escalation, a US-Israel operation against Iran on February 28 resulted, according to Tehran, in the deaths of over 3,000 individuals, with Iran subsequently claiming it resulted in casualties among American and Israeli personnel as well.