Saudi Arabia condemned the tanker incident in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks targeting Arab states, calling for an end to regional tensions.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Iran of targeting the Sadr oil tanker, which belongs to Saudi Arabia, as it passed through the strait. The ministry said two members of the tanker’s crew were killed in the incident.
The Saudi National Shipping Company announced that a security incident occurred as the tanker passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday and that two sailors were killed.
Riyadh expresses regional solidarity
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned Iran’s attacks targeting Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait. The ministry said it stood in full solidarity with the three countries’ efforts to protect their security and sovereignty.
Riyadh called for an end to the escalation, the protection of international maritime transport and global energy supplies, and respect for the sovereignty of states. The ministry urged the parties to comply with international law and return to negotiations and peaceful solutions.
Developments around the Strait of Hormuz
Security problems affecting maritime traffic in the region increased after US and Israeli attacks on Iran began on February 28. US Central Command announced that the wave of attacks targeting facilities belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which began on Tuesday, had been completed.
Iran also launched attacks on locations it identified as US bases and targets in Arab countries. Iran carried out attacks targeting Gulf countries and Israel, followed later by a ceasefire.
The United States and Iran signed an agreement on June 18 to end the fighting and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic. However, the process did not advance because of disagreements over its implementation and the security of the waterway.
The fighting resumed in July, and US Central Command announced on Tuesday that it was continuing attacks on targets inside Iran.
