UAE Blames Iran for Ship Attacks as US Vows Indefinite Hormuz Blockade

Conflict48 sourcesAug 14, 2026

Leans leftFactual rigor 53/100

The Story

The United Arab Emirates on Friday blamed Iran for attacks on two vessels linked to its state-owned oil company as they passed through the Strait of Hormuz a day earlier.

Two vessels from the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) were attacked Thursday evening. The UAE Foreign Ministry called the attacks acts of piracy and a flagrant violation of the United Nations' principles of freedom of navigation. The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center reported two vessels suffered minor damage from drone attacks.

Transit through the Strait of Hormuz appeared to slow to a near standstill on Friday, with no visible crossings by vessels seen early that day. Nine vessels passed through the waterway on Thursday, up from five on Wednesday, but below the August average of 12. Before the war, more than 130 ships daily traversed the Strait.

The United States threatened an indefinite naval blockade of Iran and new economic measures. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated the US military can maintain a naval presence in the region indefinitely to enforce its blockade. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said new measures are expected next week, promising economic isolation the world has never seen before.

Vice President JD Vance stated the Trump administration's goal number one is to keep oil and gas cheap for Americans, with ensuring "Iran never gets a nuclear weapon" as goal number two. Oil prices rose Friday, on track for weekly gains, due to concerns about crude supply disruptions. Brent futures were up 25 cents to $87.32 a barrel, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 49 cents to $81.74 a barrel.

Iran's parliamentary committee approved a strategic plan to govern security and development in the Strait and Gulf, which would prevent vessels from the US, Israel, and other countries Iran designates as hostile from passing. Valiullah Bayati, a spokesperson for the committee, said these countries used the Strait for hostile actions against Iran.

What they agree on

The United Arab Emirates blamed Iran for attacks on two state-owned ADNOC vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday.
The United States threatened to maintain an indefinite naval blockade of Iran and impose new economic sanctions.
Iran's parliamentary committee approved a strategic plan to control the Strait of Hormuz, which would restrict passage for vessels from the US, Israel, and other countries Iran designates as hostile.
Oil prices rose on Friday and were on track for weekly gains, driven by concerns about disruptions to crude supplies from the Middle East.
Ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran remain stalled, with no progress reported on a June agreement.

Where they split

US sources like CBS News and NBC News emphasize Vice President JD Vance's statement that keeping oil and gas cheap for Americans is the top US goal in the Iran war, followed by preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
International sources such as Middle East Eye and Al Jazeera devote more coverage to Iran's formal steps toward controlling the Strait of Hormuz and its rejection of US claims of control over the waterway.
Some US outlets, including The Daily Wire and Breitbart News, include claims from Iran's Ministry of Intelligence about thwarting an invasion by "American-Zionist mercenaries" in Sistan and Baluchestan province, a detail less prominent in other coverage.
Coverage varies on the extent of the Strait of Hormuz's closure, with some outlets like Al Jazeera and The Daily Beast highlighting a near standstill in traffic, while Bloomberg's headline states "For the Oil Market, the Strait of Hormuz Isn’t Closed."