Strait of Hormuz: UAE blames Iran for ADNOC tanker missile attack

The United Arab Emirates has accused Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps of launching a missile strike on an Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) tanker as it crossed the Strait of Hormuz in the early hours of Saturday, an attack Abu Dhabi condemned as “piracy” and a dangerous escalation with global energy implications. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the vessel was hit while transiting one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints, and no casualties were reported. ADNOC later confirmed the attack, according to the state news agency WAM, though it released no details on the extent of damage or the tanker’s precise location.

Missile strike on ADNOC vessel

The foreign ministry named Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as the perpetrator, characterising the attack as an act of piracy and urging Tehran to halt such strikes and reopen the Strait of Hormuz fully and unconditionally. Ministry officials also warned that using the waterway as a lever for political or economic pressure threatened both regional stability and the security of global energy supplies. ADNOC, one of the world’s largest energy companies, did not immediately specify whether the crew were safe or whether the vessel had been disabled.

Regional governments rally behind UAE

Condemnation came swiftly from across the Gulf and broader Arab world. Jassim Mohammed al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, described the attack as “dangerous and unacceptable escalation” and called for international action to protect maritime navigation, reaffirming the bloc’s solidarity with the UAE. Qatar echoed that message, rejecting the use of the Strait of Hormuz as a bargaining chip and urging that the waterway be reopened without conditions. Doha’s foreign ministry warned that continued closure would undermine the interests of regional states and the global economy.

Saudi Arabia condemned the targeting of the tanker in the strongest terms, calling Iran’s continued attacks a grave breach of international law and United Nations Resolution 2817. Riyadh held Tehran responsible for the consequences and demanded an immediate end to the strikes. Jordan also condemned the attack as a flagrant violation of international law and expressed full support for the UAE.

Escalating attacks on shipping

The incident is the latest in a series of assaults that ADNOC says have significantly affected its operations. In a statement on Friday, the company said 15 of its vessels had been attacked by missiles and drones while transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the conflict, including three in the past week alone. One crew member had been killed and 20 others injured in those attacks, ADNOC said, adding that it was still working to meet customer requirements in what it described as an exceptionally challenging environment. ADNOC did not explicitly identify those responsible, though the foreign ministry’s accusation points squarely at Iran’s paramilitary force.

The Revolutionary Guard has previously threatened to strike vessels in the strait if they are linked to Iran’s adversaries or if they fail to comply with Iranian directives. This latest attack marks a sharp escalation, with the UAE and its Gulf neighbours pressing to keep the passage open to international shipping.

Strait of Hormuz and energy security

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway through which a large portion of the world’s seaborne oil passes, making it a critical artery for global energy markets. Any sustained disruption there would have immediate consequences for prices and supply chains, and the UAE’s call for the strait to be reopened without conditions reflects a broader anxiety among Gulf producers. The attack also highlights the fragility of maritime security in the region, where tensions have been simmering for months.

Looking ahead, the international community faces mounting pressure to respond with concrete action. Diplomatic efforts may be intensified, and there are expectations that naval patrols or other protective measures could be strengthened to ensure the safety of commercial shipping. Whether Iran heeds the demands remains uncertain, but the stakes for the region and the global economy could hardly be higher.