The United Arab Emirates has opposed Iran’s move to restrict access to the Strait of Hormuz, stating that this crucial maritime route “has never belonged to Iran to close or limit.”
Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, the UAE’s Minister of Industry and head of the state oil company in Abu Dhabi, said on social media that any such attempt goes far beyond a regional issue.
“Any attempt to do so is not a regional matter; it is the disruption of a vital global economic artery and a direct threat to the energy, food, and health security of every nation,” he said.
Since military actions by the United States and Israel against Iran began on February 28, Tehran has threatened to target ships attempting to use the waterway. This has led to a near halt in shipments and a sharp increase in global oil and gas prices.
Al Jaber added that setting such a precedent would be “illegal, dangerous, and unacceptable.”
“The world simply cannot afford it and must not allow it,” he emphasized.
