The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned an Iranian drone attack on an ADNOC oil tanker in the heavily contested Strait of Hormuz, as the United States prepares to begin escorting vessels through the strategic waterway.
According to ADNOC, the UAE’s state-owned oil company, two drones struck the MV Barakah off the coast of Oman. The company confirmed that no casualties were recorded and noted that the vessel was not carrying any cargo at the time of the incident.
Reacting to the attack, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “Targeting commercial shipping and using the Strait of Hormuz as a tool of economic coercion or blackmail represents acts of piracy by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps.”
Earlier, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency had reported that a ship was hit by projectiles in the same area late on Sunday.
The development comes as US President Donald Trump announced that American forces would begin escorting ships through the crucial maritime route from Monday.
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Negotiations between the United States and Iran have remained stalled since a ceasefire took effect in the Middle East conflict on April 8.
Iran continues to maintain significant influence over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, while the United States has deployed a naval blockade in response.
US Central Command stated that its escort mission will involve guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned systems, and around 15,000 military personnel to secure passage through the strait.
Maritime intelligence firm AXSMarine reported that as of April 29, over 900 commercial vessels were present in the Gulf, a decline from more than 1,100 at the start of the conflict.
Meanwhile, oil markets have surged following disruptions in the strait, which is a critical passage for about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, raising concerns over broader economic consequences.