Gargash: Repeated attacks on ADNOC vessels will not alter UAE approach

Abu Dhabi: The repeated targeting of ADNOC vessels will not push the UAE away from a measured approach built around deterrence, diplomacy and international law, Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, said on Saturday, following the latest attack on an ADNOC vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.

“The repeated targeting of ADNOC tankers will not deter the UAE from pursuing a balanced and rational policy based on three pillars: deterrence, diplomacy and adherence to international law,” Gargash said in a post on X.

He said the UAE would safeguard its right to freedom of navigation and use of the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law, while defending its sovereignty and national interests.

At the same time, he said, the country would continue to pursue dialogue and give priority to diplomatic solutions.

Gargash also stressed the importance of a unified Gulf position as tensions persist, saying the UAE would make every effort to strengthen a common GCC approach as an essential pillar for protecting regional security and the interests of Gulf states.

His comments came after ADNOC said one of its vessels was attacked while passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday evening. No injuries were reported and the situation was brought under control, the company said.

The incident followed attacks on two other ADNOC vessels in the strait on Thursday evening. Those attacks also caused no injuries. The UAE strongly condemned the incidents and attributed the Thursday attacks to Iran, describing them as a violation of international law and a threat to freedom of navigation.

They are part of a wider series of attacks affecting ADNOC shipping during the continuing regional conflict. ADNOC said on August 7 that 15 of its vessels had been struck by missiles and drones while transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began, with the attacks at that point having killed one crew member and injured 20.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, is one of the world's most important energy corridors. Around a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies normally pass through it, making disruption to shipping there a concern far beyond the Gulf.

Traffic through the strait has slowed sharply as attacks and political tensions have intensified, increasing pressure on one of the world's most strategically important shipping routes.