CAIRO, Aug 15 - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced on Saturday that Iran had attacked a ship belonging to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) while it was passing through the Strait of Hormuz a day earlier, as reported by the Emirati state news agency WAM.
ADNOC stated that there were no injuries and that the situation was under control, according to WAM.
The UAE's foreign ministry urged Iran to stop what it called unprovoked attacks, end hostilities, and fully reopen the waterway.
There has not been an immediate response from Iran.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have previously issued warnings about taking action against ships in the strait if they are associated with Iran’s adversaries or do not follow Iranian directives.
This attack marked the third incident involving ADNOC vessels within a week, and the UAE has also accused Iran of being involved in the earlier incidents.
Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, stated that Abu Dhabi would protect its sovereignty and interests after these repeated attacks on ADNOC vessels.
“We will protect our rights to freedom of navigation while continuing to pursue dialogue and prioritize diplomatic solutions,” Gargash wrote in a post on X.
Additionally, the United Kingdom's agency reported earlier that a bulk carrier had been hit by an unknown projectile in the strait on Friday. It was unclear if this incident involved the same ADNOC vessel.
About 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the narrow strait between Oman and Iran. Since the escalation of the conflict involving the U.S. and Israel against Iran on February 28, shipping has faced repeated disruptions, increasing freight rates and raising security concerns.
ADNOC, which represents Abu Dhabi's state oil company, is among the largest energy producers globally and exports crude oil, natural gas, and refined products around the world.