UAE condemns Iran drone attack on ADNOC tanker in Strait of Hormuz

The UAE on Monday strongly condemned an Iranian drone attack on an ADNOC oil tanker in the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, as the US began guiding commercial vessels through the waterway.

Two drones struck the MV Barakah off the coast of Oman. No one was injured, and the ship was not loaded, ADNOC said.

What happened to the ADNOC tanker in the Strait of Hormuz?

Two Iranian drones hit the MV Barakah, an ADNOC-affiliated crude oil tanker, while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz late Sunday. The UAE state oil giant confirmed no injuries and said the vessel was empty at the time.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency had earlier reported projectiles striking a ship in the same area.

How did the UAE respond to the Iran drone attack?

The UAE foreign ministry issued a sharp condemnation, calling the strike an act of piracy. "Targeting commercial shipping and using the Strait of Hormuz as a tool of economic coercion or blackmail represents acts of piracy by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps," the ministry said.

The statement carried the ministry's "utmost condemnation and denunciation" of the attack.

Why is the Strait of Hormuz under a US naval blockade?

The US and Iran have remained deadlocked in peace negotiations since a ceasefire in the Middle East war took effect on April 8. Iran has maintained a stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, and the United States responded with a naval blockade.

President Donald Trump said Monday that the US would begin guiding ships through the vital waterway.

US Central Command said it would deploy guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms and 15,000 service members for the escort mission.

The operation marks a direct US commitment to keeping one of the world's most critical shipping lanes open. The strait normally carries one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.

What is the economic impact of the Strait of Hormuz closure?

Oil prices have surged since the strait's closure, raising fears of widespread economic damage. Maritime intelligence firm AXSMarine reported that as of April 29, more than 900 commercial vessels were in the Gulf, down from over 1,100 at the start of the conflict. The drop reflects how the standoff has disrupted one of the world's most consequential shipping corridors.