The United Arab Emirates has accused Iran of committing “acts of piracy” after a vessel linked to state-owned oil giant ADNOC came under missile attack while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. ADNOC said on Saturday that one of its vessels had been targeted by a missile early in the day, but that the situation was under control.
No injuries were reported, and neither ADNOC nor the UAE authorities provided details about the vessel, its cargo or the extent of any damage. The UAE Foreign Ministry condemned what it described as a “hostile Iranian attack” on the ADNOC vessel, saying the incident violated a United Nations Security Council resolution protecting freedom of navigation.
The ministry also accused Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of targeting commercial shipping and using the strategic waterway as a means of exerting economic pressure. It urged Tehran to stop the attacks and fully and unconditionally reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global energy route.
Before the US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28, about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed through the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman. Shipping through the strait has been repeatedly disrupted since the conflict began, driving up freight rates and heightening security concerns.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had often threatened to take action against vessels using the strait if they are linked to countries considered hostile to Tehran or fail to comply with Iranian directives. ADNOC said on Friday that it had been significantly affected by the “unprovoked attacks” on its personnel and assets, while continuing to meet customer demand despite an “exceptionally challenging environment”.
The company said 15 of its vessels had been struck by missiles and drones while passing through the strait since the conflict began, including three attacks last week. One crew member was killed and 20 others injured, according to ADNOC. ADNOC, the Abu Dhabi state oil company, is one of the world’s largest energy producers, exporting crude oil, natural gas and refined petroleum products to markets around the globe.