UAE accuses Iran of attacking two ADNOC tankers in Strait of Hormuz
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Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates has accused Iran of launching drone attacks on two tankers operated by the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) while they were transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The UAE described the incidents as acts of piracy.
The attacks took place on Thursday evening. ADNOC said no injuries were reported and that the situation had been brought under control.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre said two vessels had suffered minor damage in drone attacks while passing through the strategic waterway. Although it did not identify the vessels, the details appeared to match the incident involving the ADNOC tankers.
The UAE Foreign Ministry condemned what it called a hostile Iranian attack and said targeting commercial shipping was a “flagrant violation” of the United Nations’ principles on freedom of navigation.
“Targeting commercial shipping and using the Strait of Hormuz as a tool of economic coercion or blackmail represents acts of piracy by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps,” the ministry said. It added that the attacks posed a direct threat to regional stability and global energy security.
Iran had not immediately responded to the allegations.
Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, also condemned the attacks. He said the repeated targeting of ships, navigation routes and infrastructure represented an unacceptable escalation and a serious violation of international law.
(Inputs from AP)