Saudi Arabia has demanded an immediate end to Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz after two tankers linked to Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC came under fire in the past week.
Why it matters: The strike deals yet another blow to a waterway that carries roughly a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil. Each new attack pushes global energy markets closer to real disruption.
ADNOC confirmed Thursday evening that two of its vessels came under attack while transiting the strait. The company reported no injuries and said crews brought the situation under control quickly.
The UAE’s foreign ministry responded first, denouncing what it called “the hostile Iranian attack” in a statement carried by the Emirates News Agency (WAM). Abu Dhabi said the strike violated UN Security Council Resolution 2817, which guarantees free passage for commercial ships through Hormuz.
Riyadh’s Condemnation
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry followed Friday with a statement condemning the attack “in the strongest terms.” The ministry rejected what it called Iran’s ongoing assault on commercial vessels and tankers, and it held Tehran fully responsible for any consequences that follow.
What they’re saying: The Saudi ministry didn’t mince words. It warned that “the repetition of these attacks represents a serious escalation and a direct threat to the security of maritime navigation.” Riyadh also reaffirmed its full solidarity with the UAE and its support for whatever measures Abu Dhabi takes to protect its sovereignty, security, and national assets.
The UAE went further, framing the strikes as acts of piracy. Its foreign ministry said targeting commercial shipping “represents acts of piracy by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps” and amounts to “a direct threat to the stability of the region, its peoples, and global energy security.”
Wider Gulf and Arab Reaction
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jassim al-Budaiwi echoed that alarm. He called the attack a “dangerous and unacceptable escalation” and urged international action to protect shipping lanes. Qatar joined the condemnations too, rejecting any use of the strait as a bargaining chip and calling for its unconditional reopening.
These attacks didn’t happen in isolation. Iran has targeted ADNOC vessels repeatedly since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iranian military and nuclear sites on 28 February, 2026, an offensive that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and triggered months of retaliatory strikes across the region. Tehran has since sought to control passage through Hormuz, and it has at times threatened to charge ships a toll for transit.
Economic and Security Impact
The human and economic cost has mounted steadily. By some counts, more than a dozen ADNOC vessels have come under missile or drone fire since the war began, and the broader campaign has killed one crew member and wounded 20 others. Washington answered with its own naval blockade of Iranian ports, which it first imposed in April, though a shaky ceasefire and follow-up talks have still failed to fully restore normal shipping traffic.
Consequently, insurers and shipping firms remain wary of the route even when Iranian threats ease. That caution alone keeps freight and energy costs elevated across Gulf economies.
What’s next: Saudi Arabia’s statement adds diplomatic weight to a growing chorus of Gulf voices pressing Iran to step back. Still, Tehran has yet to respond publicly to this week’s strikes, and negotiations over the strait’s future management remain underway between Iran and Oman. Further escalation therefore remains a real possibility. Global markets, meanwhile, will keep watching Hormuz closely, since even a brief closure could send oil prices sharply higher.
