Capitals, July 7 (SANA) Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan on Tuesday condemned Iranian attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that these attacks constitute a flagrant violation of international law and a threat to the safety and security of maritime navigation, according to statements carried by their respective state news agencies.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry expressed the Kingdom’s strongest condemnation of Iran’s targeting of the Saudi tanker “Wadiyan” and the Qatari tanker “Al-Rakiyat” during their transit through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement published by SPA. The ministry affirmed that these “unacceptable attacks” are an assault on the security and safety of international navigation and the security of global energy supplies.
The UAE Foreign Ministry said in a statement carried by WAM that Iran’s “aggressive” attack on the Qatari tanker constitutes a “serious threat” to the safety and security of international navigation and represents a “dangerous escalation” aimed at undermining the security and stability of one of the world’s most vital waterways.
Egypt’s Foreign Ministry condemned Iran’s targeting of a Qatari gas tanker while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, expressing Cairo’s complete rejection of all acts that threaten regional security and stability or endanger freedom of navigation in international waterways, according to a statement.
Jordan’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement carried by Petra, condemned Iran’s attack on the Qatari tanker “Al-Rakiyat,” affirming Jordan’s rejection and denunciation of the attack and its absolute solidarity with Qatar and full support for all measures it takes to protect its security and stability.
On Tuesday, maritime security sources reported that a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker sustained damage in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz near the coast of Oman, following a separate incident targeting a Qatari oil tanker in the same area. The attacks came despite the signing of a US-Iran memorandum of understanding on June 18 to reopen the strait and allow the resumption of normal shipping, after the waterway had been closed for over three months due to the war in the Middle East.
The crisis, triggered by the closure of the strait, caused a spike in global oil prices and disrupted global shipping routes. The Gulf Cooperation Council has consistently affirmed that freedom of navigation is a “collective right” of all nations and that Iran’s actions threaten regional and global economic stability.
KhA / H.H
