UAE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS DENOUNCES TANKER ATTACK AT UN, CLASSING ACTION AS PIRACY AND A VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

UAE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS DENOUNCES TANKER ATTACK AT UN, CLASSING ACTION AS PIRACY AND A VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

In an official statement, the Emirati government demands accountability for aggression 18 nautical miles off Oman and invokes UN Security Council Resolution 2817 to protect commercial transit.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (MoFA) issued a strongly worded official statement denouncing the latest missile attack against an oil tanker operating on behalf of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). The attack occurred in international waters, approximately 18 nautical miles east of Khasab (Oman), at the strategic entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.

In its official response, Abu Dhabi categorized the incident as an "unjustifiable act of maritime piracy," a "direct hostile attack," and a "flagrant violation of International Humanitarian Law and the Law of the Sea." The Emirati government submitted a formal representation to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), officially invoking Resolution 2817—an international instrument establishing guarantees for freedom of commercial navigation and prohibiting armed interference along global supply routes.

Highlights of the Official MoFA Statement:

Denunciation of Piracy and Maritime Terrorism: MoFA emphasized that using missiles against civilian vessels and unarmed crews goes beyond state disputes, falling categorically under acts of piracy and a threat to international energy security.

Invocation of Multilateral Mechanisms (UN Resolution 2817): Abu Dhabi requests that the Security Council adopt enforcement and monitoring measures to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the strike, reiterating that free transit through the Strait of Hormuz is a global public good.

Safeguarding Crews and Civilian Operations: The statement underscores that while the crew aboard the targeted vessel was safely rescued after extinguishing the fire, repeated attacks place the lives of civilian seafarers of various nationalities at direct risk.

Demand for Physical Navigation Guarantees: The Emirati government declared that stabilizing routes in the Persian Gulf cannot rely on verbal truce promises, demanding the implementation of practical, auditable naval protection mechanisms to ensure commercial flow.

Operational Impact

The stance taken by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs hardens the position of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in indirect negotiations mediated by Oman. The formal complaint at the UN escalates pressure on technical route discussions, aligning Abu Dhabi with the U.S. demand that any easing of the blockade in the strait remains strictly contingent on an immediate and proven end to attacks against commercial shipping.