Gulf States Condemn Iranian Attacks on UAE ADNOC Tankers in Strait of Hormuz

Gulf nations and regional organizations strongly condemned a series of attacks targeting oil tankers operated by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. According to official statements reported by regional outlets, three vessels belonging to the Emirati energy firm were struck over a two-day period in mid-August 2026, drawing sharp rebukes from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Diplomatic Condemnations and Regional Reactions

The escalation prompted immediate diplomatic fallout across the Middle East, with governments denouncing the strikes as severe violations of international law. According to statements reviewed by regional media, the Gulf Cooperation Council condemned what it termed repeated Iranian assaults on ADNOC tankers and commercial shipping in the strategic waterway. GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Bedwawi stated that the targeting of the vessels constitutes a grave breach of international navigational freedoms, as reported by state-aligned and regional coverage.

Individual member states echoed those concerns in formal foreign ministry releases. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia condemned the attacks in the strongest terms, characterizing them as an unacceptable repetition of Iranian aggression against commercial vessels and oil tankers. Riyadh held Tehran fully responsible for the consequences of the maritime incidents, warning that the repeated strikes pose a direct threat to global energy supplies and maritime security. Similarly, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement rejecting the use of the Strait of Hormuz as a pressure tactic, calling for the unconditional reopening of the corridor and expressing full solidarity with the United Arab Emirates.

Kuwaiti and Bahraini authorities also registered formal protests against the attacks. The Kuwaiti foreign ministry asserted that the ongoing assaults threaten international trade and energy flows, demanding an immediate halt to all escalatory actions. In Manama, the Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the targeting of the ADNOC tankers as a direct violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and relevant international maritime regulations.

Emirati Response and Security Context

UAE authorities emphasized that the maritime attacks violate established international security frameworks designed to protect commercial transit. According to the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the attacks against the ADNOC fleet represent a blatant violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817, which mandates the protection of commercial shipping and prohibits the disruption of international waterways. Emirati officials characterized the incidents as acts of piracy by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps aimed at utilizing the waterway for economic extortion.

ADNOC confirmed that the vessels involved sustained attacks during evening transits, with two ships targeted on a Thursday evening followed by a third vessel struck on Friday evening. The company reported that none of the incidents resulted in crew injuries and that emergency protocols successfully stabilized the situation onboard the affected tankers. Regional security analysts cited by the press noted that the concentration of strikes on a single national operator’s fleet signals a deliberate attempt by Tehran to raise the financial and operational costs of maritime transit through the vital strait.