UAE Accuses Iran of Piracy After ADNOC Tanker Attacks
The United Arab Emirates and Gulf allies condemned Iran after drone attacks targeted three ADNOC oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz over two days.
The Government of the United Arab Emirates accused Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps of piracy following a series of drone attacks on tankers belonging to the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in the Strait of Hormuz. The attacks occurred over two days, with two vessels targeted Thursday evening and another on Friday evening. While the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center reported minor damage to two ships, ADNOC confirmed there were no casualties and that the situation remains under control.
Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), condemned the incidents as a dangerous escalation and a violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and UN Security Council Resolution 2817. Bahrain and Kuwait joined the condemnation, specifically attributing the attacks to Iran and describing them as a threat to global energy supplies and maritime security. The Bahraini Foreign Ministry called on the UN Security Council to ensure the waterway is fully reopened.
Amid the tension, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright disputed commercial tracking data suggesting a sharp decline in traffic. Wright asserted that 8 to 9 million barrels of oil continue to move through the strait daily, though he noted many vessels are traveling dark with transponders off while under military escort.
