UAE Condemns Iran Over Tanker Attacks as US Escalates Strikes on Strait of Hormuz

The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned what it called a brazen attack by Iran on two of its national tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, an incident that left one Indian crew member dead and eight others wounded, four of them seriously. According to the UAE Ministry of Defence, six of the injured were Indian nationals and two were Ukrainian. The ministry described the strike as a clear violation of international law that threatens stability across the region.

Iran’s Military Confirms Responsibility

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps later acknowledged carrying out the strikes, claiming the tankers had ignored warnings, disabled their navigation systems, and attempted to pass through a mined section of the waterway. The IRGC said it disabled the vessels in response and warned that continued cooperation with what it called hostile actors would only deepen instability and risk triggering a global energy crisis.

US Announces Blockade and New Shipping Fee

Hours before the tanker attack, President Trump announced plans to reinstate a naval blockade on Iranian ports and impose a 20% fee on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz. He said the move was intended to block Iranian vessels and customers from using the route while keeping it open for all other nations. The policy is set to take effect Tuesday evening. Trump described the United States as taking on the role of guardian of the strait, framing the fee as fair compensation for providing security in the region.

Iran Pushes Back on US Claims

Iran’s foreign minister responded by asserting that Iran has always served as the guardian of the strait and intends to continue doing so, while suggesting that a 20% fee was excessive. Separately, Iran’s military leadership stated it would not accept US involvement in managing the waterway, warning that any cooperation with American forces would be treated as an act of war against Iran’s sovereignty.

Strikes Continue Across the Region

US Central Command confirmed a new round of strikes targeting multiple sites inside Iran, including facilities in Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, and several other locations, aimed at limiting Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping. In response, Iranian forces reportedly targeted US military assets in Kuwait, while the IRGC claimed responsibility for strikes on facilities in Bahrain and a ballistic missile attack on an air base in Jordan.

Oil Prices Climb as Tensions Escalate

Oil markets reacted sharply to the developments, with global crude prices rising further in early Tuesday trading after already jumping more than 9% a day earlier. Meanwhile, international shipping data indicates that traffic through the strait remains limited, and the International Maritime Organization has publicly opposed the idea of charging fees for passage through international straits, stating there is no legal basis for such tolls.