DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates claimed on Monday that Iran launched two drones at an oil tanker affiliated with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in the Strait of Hormuz, condemning the incident as a serious threat to maritime security and global energy stability.
Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) stated that a commercial tanker had reportedly been struck by unidentified projectiles off the coast of the UAE.
The UK-based maritime monitoring agency said the vessel was hit approximately 78 nautical miles north of Fujairah, a key Emirati port city situated along the Gulf of Oman.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the vessel was targeted while transiting the strategically vital narrow waterway. The ministry added that no injuries were reported in the incident.
“The UAE condemns in the strongest terms the targeting of a national tanker affiliated with ADNOC while passing through the Strait of Hormuz,” the ministry said in a statement.
UAE Strongly Condemns Targeting of ADNOC National Carrier While Transiting Strait of Hormuz pic.twitter.com/GDOh6CvP9q
— MoFA وزارة الخارجية (@mofauae) May 4, 2026
Despite the incident, all crew members aboard the tanker were confirmed safe, with no immediate reports of casualties or severe damage, UKMTO stated.
“A tanker has reported being hit by unknown projectiles,” the UKMTO said in its advisory, urging vessels operating in the vicinity to exercise heightened caution while authorities continue to assess the situation and investigate the nature of the attack.
UKMTO WARNING ATTACK 052-26
Click here to read the full warning⤵️https://t.co/CsdgXsQQKR
#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/J9lRjmBJB4— UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) May 4, 2026
Earlier today, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a new map outlining areas in the Strait of Hormuz that it says are under its control.
The designated zone stretches between two defined maritime lines: one running from the western tip of Iran’s Qeshm Island to Umm Al Quwain in the United Arab Emirates, and another extending from Kuh-e Mobarak in Iran to the area south of Fujairah in the UAE, Tasnim News Agency reported.
Iran Announces New Control Zone in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran redefined the control zone in the Strait of Hormuz, stretching from the south of Mount Mobarak in Iran to the south of Fujairah in the UAE, and from the west of Qeshm Island in Iran to Umm al-Quwain in the UAE. pic.twitter.com/lZyqBZI87t
— Tasnim News Agency (@Tasnimnews_EN) May 4, 2026
Threat to global energy security
The UAE foreign ministry stressed that the attack posed a direct threat to regional stability and global energy markets, which rely heavily on uninterrupted flows of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.
Abu Dhabi called on Iran to immediately halt what it described as “unprovoked attacks” and urged full respect for maritime security and freedom of navigation.
It also reiterated calls for the immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route through which around 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes.
The latest incident came as President Donald Trump said the US would start guiding ships through the vital waterway from Monday as part of a new maritime initiative, “Project Freedom”.
Iran, however, has rejected any such initiative, warning of consequences if the US interferes.
The US and Iran remain deadlocked in peace negotiations since a ceasefire in the war came into effect on April 8.
Iran has closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz, and the US has put in place a naval blockade on Iranian ports in return.
US Central Command said it would use guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms and 15,000 service members to guide ships through the Hormuz Strait.
