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Bahrain's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday condemned an Iranian attack on the Saudi oil tanker Wadiyan and the Qatari oil tanker Al-Rukayyat in the Strait of Hormuz, saying the incident endangered the crews of both vessels.

The ministry said the attack threatened international maritime security and global energy supplies, and violated international law and the Islamabad memorandum of understanding.

Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi condemned what he called Iran’s targeting of the Saudi tanker Wadiyan as it transited the Strait of Hormuz, in a statement Tuesday.

Al-Budaiwi called the attack a “criminal Iranian act” and a dangerous escalation threatening international navigation security and energy supplies.

He said the GCC states fully stood with Saudi Arabia and supported all measures taken by Riyadh to protect its national interests.
Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi condemned what he called Iran’s targeting of the Saudi tanker Wadiyan as it transited the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement on Tuesday, Al-Budaiwi called the attack a “criminal Iranian act” and a dangerous escalation threatening international navigation security and energy supplies. He said the GCC states fully stood with Saudi Arabia and supported all measures taken by Riyadh to protect its national interests.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said Qatar’s accusations over an attack on a vessel linked to the country in the Strait of Hormuz were “perplexing” and inconsistent with good neighborly relations, while warning that vessels using uncoordinated routes face risks.

Esmaeil Baghaei said commercial vessels using routes not coordinated with Iran, or tampering with ship-tracking systems, created risks and disrupted Tehran’s efforts to facilitate safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Baghaei said Iran was diligently fulfilling its commitments under the memorandum of understanding regarding measures needed to manage the Strait of Hormuz.

He urged countries in the region and shipping companies to refrain from any actions that contradict the provisions of the memorandum.

The United States is revoking a general license that authorized the sale of Iranian oil after tanker attacks near the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported Tuesday citing a US official.

The official said Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz were “wholly unacceptable” to the United States and would be met with consequences.

The US official said negotiators continued to work in good faith toward a final agreement with Iran despite the latest escalation.

Saudi Arabia condemned Iran’s targeting of the Saudi tanker Wadyan and the Qatari tanker Al Rekayyat as they transited the Strait of Hormuz, saying the attacks threatened international navigation and global energy supplies.

“The kingdom stresses its demand that Iran immediately stop all actions that threaten the security of the region and the safety of international navigation and energy supplies,” the Saudi foreign ministry said said in a statement on Tuesday.

The ministry said Saudi Arabia held Iran “fully responsible for these attacks, their damage and all their repercussions.”