Iran, US clash over control of Hormuz Strait as vessel attacked
Tensions escalate in the Strait of Hormuz as an Emirati oil tanker is struck, while Trump claims US control and Iran reasserts sovereignty.
A vessel operated by the United Arab Emirates' state oil company was targeted in the Strait of Hormuz on August 14, marking the latest in a series of incidents disrupting one of the world's most critical shipping corridors. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company reported no injuries from the attack.
The incident occurs as the waterway remains a flashpoint in escalating geopolitical tensions between Iran and the United States, with implications for global energy markets and Nigerian crude exports that depend on stable international shipping routes. The UAE's presidential adviser Anwar Gargash stated that the emirate would exercise its right to navigate the strait freely, signalling resistance to Iran's effective control of the passage.
Since February, Tehran has restricted traffic through the waterway and launched strikes against commercial vessels, asserting it intends to charge users for transit—a position Washington opposes. The blockade has severely throttled shipping activity in the region.
US President Donald Trump escalated rhetoric on Friday, claiming he would declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory after what he described as defeating Iran, stating that American forces maintain a blockade preventing unauthorised passage. Trump asserted that the waterway is effectively under US control.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi rejected this assertion on Saturday, declaring that the strait has been, is, and will remain Iranian territory, and that only Tehran can determine when it opens or closes. Nigerian stakeholders monitor these developments closely given the nation's dependence on maritime trade and crude oil exports through international waters.
Iran has reportedly held discussions with Oman regarding alternative sea routes, a move reflecting the broader disruption to regional shipping patterns. The competing claims over the strategic waterway underscore deepening friction between Washington and Tehran, with no clear resolution visible.
Sources
- Punch Newspapers — UAE oil giant says vessel attacked in Hormuz strait
- Daily Trust — Iran kicks As Trump Says Hormuz Will Become US Territory After War
- Punch Newspapers — Iran slams Trump’s threat to declare Hormuz US territory
