Archive · 8 Aug 2026
UAE condemns Iran over alleged attack on ADNOC vessel
The United Arab Emirates, a country in the Middle East, said on Saturday that Iran attacked one of its oil ships.
The ship was sailing through a narrow waterway called the Strait of Hormuz.
This waterway is very important because about one out of every five oil and gas shipments in the world passes through it.
The UAE's government called the attack an act of piracy, which means harming or disturbing ships at sea.
A company called ADNOC, which is owned by the UAE government, owns the ship.
ADNOC says 15 of its ships have been attacked since a war in the area started in February.
One crew member died and 20 other people were hurt in those attacks.
The UAE wants Iran to stop attacking ships and to let traffic use the waterway again.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards have said they might stop ships that belong to their enemies or ships that do not follow their orders.
Different countries disagree about what is fair, and that makes shipping in the area very dangerous.
The UAE condemned an alleged Iranian missile attack on an ADNOC vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, August 8.
The UAE Foreign Ministry accused Iran's Revolutionary Guards of "acts of piracy" and of violating a UN Security Council resolution on freedom of navigation.
ADNOC said 15 of its vessels have been attacked by missiles and drones since the conflict began, including three this week, killing one crew member and injuring 20 others.
About one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been repeatedly disrupted since the US-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28.
Details of the tanker, its cargo and any damage were not disclosed, and no injuries were reported in the latest incident.
- Who
- The United Arab Emirates and its Foreign Ministry, Iran's Revolutionary Guards, and the state oil company ADNOC.
- What
- An alleged Iranian missile attack on an ADNOC vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz, which the UAE condemned as "acts of piracy."
- When
- Saturday, August 8, during a conflict that began on February 28.
- Where
- The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway between Oman and Iran.
- Why
- The UAE says Iran is targeting commercial shipping and using the waterway as a tool of economic pressure, violating a UN Security Council resolution on freedom of navigation.
UAE position
Iran / Revolutionary Guards position
Responsibility for the attack
UAE position
The UAE says Iran's Revolutionary Guards carried out a hostile attack on an ADNOC vessel and accuses them of "acts of piracy" against commercial shipping.
Iran / Revolutionary Guards position
No direct Iranian response is quoted, but the Guards have previously threatened action against vessels linked to Tehran's adversaries or ships that fail to comply with Iranian directives.
Freedom of navigation vs. use of the strait as leverage
UAE position
The attack violates a UN Security Council resolution on freedom of navigation; the UAE calls on Iran to halt attacks and reopen the strait fully and unconditionally.
Iran / Revolutionary Guards position
Iran's Guards have warned that vessels linked to adversaries or non-compliant ships could face action, treating the strategic waterway as leverage in the conflict.
- Incident
- Missile attack on an ADNOC vessel in the Strait of Hormuz
- Date
- Saturday, August 8
- Accused party
- Iran's Revolutionary Guards
- Vessels attacked since conflict began
- 15 ADNOC vessels, including 3 this week
- Crew casualties
- 1 killed, 20 injured
- Global oil and LNG share
- About one-fifth passes through the Strait of Hormuz
- Conflict start
- February 28, US-Israeli war on Iran
- Company affected
- ADNOC, the Abu Dhabi state oil company
