Saudi Arabia condemns Iranian attack on UAE tankers in Hormuz

Key facts

• Saudi Arabia condemned an attack on two UAE oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
• The Saudi foreign ministry stated the attacks are a dangerous escalation and a threat to maritime navigation and global energy supplies.
• The Kingdom held Iran responsible for the consequences of continuing such attacks.
• Gulf and Arab states expressed solidarity with the UAE and called for an end to attacks on commercial shipping.
• The UAE stated the attack was a hostile Iranian action targeting an ADNOC tanker with a missile.
• ADNOC reported 15 of its vessels have been attacked in Hormuz since the war began, including three this week.

Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned an attack on two oil tankers belonging to the UAE's ADNOC while they were transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The Saudi foreign ministry stated that the recurrence of such attacks constitutes a dangerous escalation and a direct threat to the security and safety of maritime navigation and global energy supplies.

The Kingdom held Iran responsible for the consequences of continuing these attacks, describing them as a serious violation of international law and norms governing freedom of navigation. Saudi Arabia called on Tehran to immediately halt the attacks to preserve regional security and stability, reaffirming its support for measures taken by the UAE to protect its sovereignty and national assets.

Jasem Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), criticized Iran's approach to using the Strait of Hormuz as a means of exerting pressure and called on the international community to take a firm stance. Gulf and Arab states, including Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Syria, and Jordan, joined in condemning the attack, warning that continued disruption of the strategic waterway threatens global trade and energy supplies. Qatar called for the unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing freedom of navigation as a fundamental principle.

The UAE foreign ministry condemned what it called a "hostile Iranian attack that targeted a tanker belonging to ADNOC with a missile while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz, without causing casualties." ADNOC reported that since the start of the war, 15 of its vessels have been attacked in Hormuz, including three this week alone.

A bulk carrier has also been struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said. The UKMTO reported that the crew is safe and no damage assessment has been reported.