{"id":45432,"date":"2026-07-08T07:57:36","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T07:57:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/?p=45432"},"modified":"2026-07-08T08:34:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T08:34:06","slug":"uaes-gargash-accuses-iran-of-keeping-conflict-alive-condemns-attacks-on-shipping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/08\/uaes-gargash-accuses-iran-of-keeping-conflict-alive-condemns-attacks-on-shipping\/","title":{"rendered":"UAE\u2019s Gargash Accuses Iran of Keeping Conflict Alive, Condemns Attacks on Shipping."},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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He said Gulf countries cannot continue to be exposed to Iran\u2019s uncertain approach of moving between confrontation and cooperation, stressing the need for stability, responsible actions and lasting peace in the region.<\/h4>

\u00a0<\/p>

UAE Diplomat Condemns Attacks on Gulf Shipping, Warns Against Rising Regional Tensions<\/h3>

A senior UAE official has criticised the latest attacks targeting commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that such actions pose a serious threat to regional security and maritime stability.<\/p>

Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, expressed concern after three commercial ships reported incidents while travelling through the strategically important waterway on Wednesday. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world\u2019s most significant shipping routes, with a large share of global energy supplies passing through the narrow maritime corridor.<\/p>

In a statement shared on X, Gargash also condemned recent Iranian strikes targeting Bahrain and Kuwait. The comments came after Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that it had carried out attacks against locations in the two Gulf countries following US military action against Iran.<\/p>

The developments have increased concerns over the stability of a fragile ceasefire arrangement between Washington and Tehran. The pause in fighting had followed a period of heightened tensions that began after US and Israeli strikes against targets in Iran.<\/p>

According to the US Central Command, the latest military response against Iran came after reported attacks on three commercial vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz. The vessels involved included the Marshall Islands-flagged M\/T Al Rekayyat, the Saudi Arabia-flagged M\/T Wedyan and the Liberian-flagged M\/T Cyprus Prosperity.<\/p>

The incidents added to fears that commercial shipping routes could become increasingly vulnerable as regional tensions continue. Any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could have wider economic consequences because of the waterway\u2019s importance for international trade and energy transportation.<\/p>

Gargash said the reported attacks reflected ongoing concerns about Iran\u2019s approach to regional relations. He argued that Tehran\u2019s actions showed a failure to fully commit to reducing tensions and moving beyond recent hostilities.<\/p>

\u201cThe attacks on commercial vessels belonging to Qatar and Saudi Arabia in the Strait of Hormuz, along with continued aggression against Bahrain and Kuwait, demonstrate that Tehran has not yet taken the necessary steps towards de-escalation and moving past the conflict,\u201d Gargash said.<\/p>

The UAE official\u2019s comments followed earlier calls for Gulf countries to respond collectively to security challenges. Last month, Gargash urged a coordinated and united approach among Gulf states after previous Iranian drone and missile attacks affected Kuwait and Bahrain.<\/p>

He said at the time that regional countries needed to work together to protect their security interests and maintain stability in the Gulf.<\/p>

The latest developments have renewed international attention on the security of maritime routes in the region. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical passage for global trade, particularly for oil and gas shipments, making any military escalation around the waterway a major concern for governments and markets worldwide.<\/p>

Officials across the region have repeatedly stressed the importance of protecting commercial shipping and preventing further escalation. They have called for diplomatic efforts and responsible actions to avoid a wider confrontation.<\/p>

The UAE has continued to emphasise the importance of regional stability, security cooperation and protecting civilian and commercial interests. Gargash\u2019s latest remarks reflect broader Gulf concerns that continued military exchanges could undermine efforts to restore calm.<\/p>

As tensions remain elevated, governments and international observers are closely monitoring developments around the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding areas. The focus remains on preventing further disruptions and finding pathways that support long-term stability in the region.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Attacks on vessels<\/h3>

Fresh Maritime Incidents Near Strait of Hormuz Raise Concerns Over Shipping Security and Oil Supplies<\/h3>

Concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in the Gulf increased after three vessels reported separate incidents near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world\u2019s most important maritime routes for energy transportation.<\/p>

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a maritime security organisation that monitors shipping activity, said an unidentified projectile struck a tanker travelling near the strategic waterway on Tuesday. The impact reportedly caused a fire onboard the vessel before additional incidents involving two more ships were reported in the same area.<\/p>

According to maritime authorities, at least one of the later attacks appeared to involve a drone. The incidents have raised fresh concerns among shipping operators and governments over the vulnerability of commercial vessels passing through the region.<\/p>

All three vessels were affected in waters close to Oman, an area that has become increasingly important amid discussions over maritime security arrangements. Oman had suggested creating a temporary shipping corridor along its coastline to help vessels navigate safely through the area. However, the proposal faced opposition from Iran, which has sought to introduce fees for ships travelling through the narrow waterway.<\/p>

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital global trade route, particularly for oil shipments. Any disruption in the passage can have a significant impact on international energy markets, making security incidents in the area closely watched by governments, traders and shipping companies.<\/p>

One of the vessels involved, the Al-Rekayyat, is linked to Qatar. The Qatari government strongly criticised the incident, describing the attack as unacceptable and a threat to freedom of navigation in international waters.<\/p>

Doha also took diplomatic action by summoning Iran\u2019s deputy ambassador to formally express its concerns and submit a complaint over the reported attack.<\/p>

Iran responded by rejecting Qatar\u2019s accusations. In a statement published by the state-run IRNA news agency, Tehran expressed disappointment over the allegations and described the claims as unacceptable.<\/p>

The exchange between Qatar and Iran has added another layer of tension at a time when regional governments are already closely monitoring developments following recent military confrontations.<\/p>

The latest maritime incidents also affected global energy markets. Oil prices rose by more than two per cent during early Asian trading on Wednesday, reaching their highest level in approximately two weeks.<\/p>

Market analysts said the increase reflected renewed fears about possible disruptions to global energy supplies. Traders were also assessing whether the latest developments could weaken confidence in the agreement reached between the United States and Iran.<\/p>

The possibility of further instability around the Strait of Hormuz remains a major concern for energy markets. Even temporary disruptions in the region can influence oil prices because of the waterway\u2019s role in transporting crude oil and other energy products to international markets.<\/p>

Shipping companies have continued to monitor the situation closely, with many operators reviewing security measures and assessing potential risks before sending vessels through the area.<\/p>

The incidents come during a period of fragile calm following heightened tensions between Iran and the United States. Any further escalation could complicate diplomatic efforts and increase pressure on countries involved in maintaining regional stability.<\/p>

For now, maritime authorities and international observers are watching developments closely, particularly around commercial shipping routes near Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. The focus remains on preventing further attacks, protecting international navigation and avoiding a wider impact on global trade and energy supplies.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

UAE\u2019s Gargash says Iran has failed to move past recent conflict, accusing Tehran of prolonging regional tensions and criticising attacks that have disrupted maritime security and commercial shipping routes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":44577,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9,69],"tags":[],"post_template":[],"top_category":[],"class_list":["post-45432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uae","category-world","pmpro-has-access"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45432","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45432"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45432\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45439,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45432\/revisions\/45439"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44577"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45432"},{"taxonomy":"post_template","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_template?post=45432"},{"taxonomy":"top_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/top_category?post=45432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}