The Qatari Foreign Ministry voiced strong condemnation of the attacks that targeted two oil tankers with links to the United Arab Emirates while they transited the Strait of Hormuz, the Emirates News Agency reported. According to the ministry’s statement carried by WAM, such actions constitute a serious threat to the security and safety of international navigation in addition to global energy supplies. The ministry called on all parties to exercise restraint and pursue diplomatic channels to address underlying tensions. Officials further urged a thorough investigation to determine responsibility and prevent recurrence of similar violations in the critical waterway.
Maritime records from the period show the assaults occurred on June 13, 2019, and involved the Front Altair, which carried naphtha originating from ADNOC facilities in the UAE, along with the Kokuka Courageous transporting methanol with origins tied to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. A summary of the June 2019 Gulf of Oman incident compiled by maritime analysts noted that explosions damaged both vessels yet produced no casualties among crew members. The tankers were en route to destinations in East Asia at the time of the attacks near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States attributed the attacks to Iran in statements released shortly afterward, while Iranian authorities denied any involvement and suggested alternative explanations, according to coverage from multiple international wire services at the time. The episode unfolded against a backdrop of heightened friction following the U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action the previous year. Shipping associations documented subsequent increases in insurance premiums and route adjustments by commercial operators navigating the Gulf region.
Qatar’s reaction formed part of a series of statements issued by regional governments responding to the same events, the Emirates News Agency indicated in its dispatch. The ministry underscored the importance of upholding international law and ensuring freedom of navigation through strategic sea lanes that support global trade. Similar positions have appeared in Qatari diplomatic communications concerning maritime security in the years since the 2019 incidents.
Figures published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration place the volume of crude oil and petroleum products transiting the Strait of Hormuz at roughly one-fifth of global consumption, a share that has remained steady in the years following the 2019 attacks. Any sustained disruption in the passage carries potential to elevate worldwide energy prices and affect supply chains dependent on Gulf exports. The administration’s assessments have repeatedly highlighted the chokepoint’s centrality to international energy security.
Coordinated naval patrols and monitoring efforts by various nations intensified after the 2019 events, according to reports from defense analysts tracking Persian Gulf security. The Gulf Cooperation Council has issued periodic calls for de-escalation and collective measures to protect shipping in the area. Regional diplomacy continues to focus on preventing isolated maritime incidents from broadening into wider confrontations.
