Four ships subjected to sabotage off east coast: UAE

Four commercial ships were subjected to sabotage operations yesterday near UAE territorial waters in the Gulf of Oman, east of Fujairah. 

A statement by the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said that the concerned authorities have taken all necessary measures, and are investigating the incident in cooperation with local and international bodies.  However, no details have been given regarding the sabotage.

The statement carried by the Emirates News Agency has said that there had been no injuries or fatalities on board the vessels and that there had been no spillage of harmful chemicals or fuel. 

The MOFAIC statement said that the carrying out “acts of sabotage on commercial and civilian vessels and threatening the safety and lives of those on board is a serious development”. 

It called on the international community to assume its responsibilities to prevent such actions by parties attempting to undermine maritime traffic safety and security.

Meanwhile in an early morning statement, Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), has denounced the act of sabotage against four ships near UAE territorial waters in the Gulf of Oman, east of Fujairah.

The GCC Secretary-General called on the international community and international



organisations concerned with maritime navigation to assume their political and legal responsibilities to prevent such acts by any parties attempting to undermine maritime traffic safety and security in this vital region. 

"Such irresponsible acts will increase tension and conflicts in the region and expose its peoples to great danger," he added.

A narrow strait which separates the Gulf countries and Iran is an important global oil and shipping route. 

There has been a recent escalation of threat between US and Iran when Tehran last week declared to partially withdraw from the restrictions of a 2015 nuclear deal. The US administration responded with a new round of sanctions against Tehran, reviving a crisis that had been contained for the past four years.

The move comes a year after the US unilaterally withdrew from the deal, over the stringent objections of its European allies. The United States has also cancelled waivers to countries who have been purchasing oil from Iran.

The deal in 2015 with Iran was widely hailed as a major diplomatic victory by Barack Obama's administration, but the Trump administration found it “defective to the core”.

Iran and Saudi Arabia are powerful neighbours and vie for regional dominance. UAE is a close ally of Saudi Arabia.