Hormuz Strait Attack: ADNOC Vessel Latest Target in US-Iran Conflict

The state-owned oil giant of the United Arab Emirates, ADNOC, has confirmed that one of its vessels was attacked while navigating through the Hormuz strait on the evening of Friday, August 14. This incident marks the latest in a series of attacks on commercial ships in the strait, a crucial waterway for global energy supplies. According to the official WAM news agency, the attack on the ADNOC vessel resulted in no injuries. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company emphasized the importance of safeguarding maritime security, protecting seafarers, and ensuring the freedom of navigation. In response to the attack, UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash stated that the Gulf state will defend its rights to freedom of navigation in the Hormuz strait. Gargash wrote in a post, 'The repeated targeting of ADNOC tankers will not deter the UAE from pursuing a balanced and prudent policy based on the three pillars of deterrence, diplomacy, and adherence to international law.' He added, 'We will exert every effort to strengthen a unified Gulf position, as it is a fundamental pillar for protecting the security of the region and the interests of its member states in this ongoing crisis.' The attack on the ADNOC vessel comes a day after the UAE accused Iran of attacking two vessels linked to ADNOC as they passed through the strait. The UAE foreign ministry condemned the attack, describing it as a 'hostile Iranian attack,' and reported no injuries. Last week, ADNOC reported that three of its tankers had been attacked in the waterway, while the Emirati foreign ministry announced an attack on another ADNOC tanker a day later. The continued attacks in the strait have led to the collapse of an April ceasefire between the United States and Iran. A June deal aimed to serve as a starting point for negotiations on a permanent settlement, stating that Iran and Oman would discuss future arrangements for the strait with other Gulf countries and in line with international law. Iranian official Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr recently outlined conditions for reopening the strait fully, including an end to what he described as war against Iran and its regional allies, the lifting of sanctions, and compensation for wartime damage.