Acts of piracy: UAE slams Iran for attacking oil vessel in Strait of Hormuz

The United Arab Emirates on Saturday condemned what it described as an Iranian attack on a vessel linked to state-run oil giant ADNOC while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz, accusing Tehran of engaging in “acts of piracy”.UAE state news agency WAM initially reported ADNOC as saying that one of its vessels had been targeted by a missile early on Saturday and that the situation had been brought under control.The UAE Foreign Ministry later condemned what it called a “hostile Iranian attack” on the vessel.Neither statement identified the tanker or provided details about its cargo or the extent of any damage. No injuries were reported. UAE ACCUSES IRAN OF ‘ACTS OF PIRACY’The UAE Foreign Ministry said the attack violated a UN Security Council resolution on freedom of navigation and accused Iran’s Revolutionary Guards of targeting commercial shipping and using the strategic waterway as a tool of economic pressure.It called on Iran to halt such attacks and reopen the Strait of Hormuz fully and unconditionally. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have previously threatened action against vessels passing through the strait if they are linked to Tehran’s adversaries or fail to comply with Iranian directives.ADNOC SAYS 15 VESSELS ATTACKEDADNOC said on Friday that its operations had been significantly affected by what it described as unprovoked attacks on its personnel and assets, even as it continued to meet customer requirements in an “exceptionally challenging environment”.The company said 15 of its vessels had been targeted by missiles and drones while passing through the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began, including three this week.According to ADNOC, one crew member has been killed and 20 others injured in those incidents. The company did not identify those responsible for the earlier attacks.ADNOC, the Abu Dhabi-bsed oil company, is among the largest energy producers and exports crude oil, natural gas and refined products globally.SHIPPING DISRUPTED SINCE WAR BEGANThe Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, with about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas passing through the narrow waterway between Oman and Iran before the conflict.Shipping through the strait has been repeatedly disrupted since the US-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28, pushing up freight rates and heightening security concerns.Before Iran closed the waterway after the war began, around 130 to 140 vessels typically transited the strait.Traffic has since fallen sharply. Only 33 vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz this week, compared with 50 in the previous week, as markets watched talks between Iran and Oman for signs of progress towards reopening the key waterway.- EndsPublished By: Aprameya RaoPublished On: Aug 8, 2026 18:20 IST