Iran increased its missile and drone strikes on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday evening, causing a significant oil port known as the Fujairah oil zone to catch fire.
Three Indian nationals were injured as a result, prompting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to denounce Iran’s actions.
Reports indicated that crude oil prices rose by around 6% following the news about the fire in Fujairah. Emirati defense officials mentioned that the attack involved 12 Iranian ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles, and four drones. Iranian state media justified the assault, labeling it a response to “U.S. military adventurism.”
Fujairah is one of the seven emirates in the UAE. The Fujairah Oil Industrial Zone, located along the Gulf of Oman, is approximately 130 miles from the Strait of Hormuz. It receives crude oil via the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline (ADCOP), which stretches about 335 miles to gas fields south of Abu Dhabi.
This port serves various purposes, such as refueling ships, storing oil, and loading other types of cargo. The berth at Fujairah can accommodate 174 ships, providing necessary services to their crews as they await navigation orders.
Notably, the ADCOP pipeline is a vital oil artery in the Middle East and plays a key role in discussions on adjusting global oil flows to lessen dependence on the Strait of Hormuz. This might explain why Iran employed a much more aggressive bombing strategy than the drone strikes carried out in April during Operation Epic Fury.
A civil defense official in Fujairah reported that the fire at the port was “under control” by Tuesday, though a “cooling exercise” would be implemented to prevent reignition.
The three injured Indians were working in the Fujairah oil industry. The Indian embassy in the UAE stated that they were coordinating with local authorities to ensure the affected individuals received appropriate medical care.
In condemning the attacks, Prime Minister Modi stated that “targeting civilians and infrastructure is unacceptable,” expressing India’s solidarity with the UAE and calling for the peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue.
India’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that the attack on Fujairah, which injured three Indians, was intolerable, demanding an immediate halt to hostilities that target civilian infrastructure.
Numerous leaders from countries like Lebanon, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, along with international organizations, also condemned the attacks announced on Tuesday.
The Emirati Foreign Ministry underscored the necessity for Iran to stop its unprovoked assaults and fully commit to ending all hostilities, alongside reopening the Strait of Hormuz without conditions.
Anwar Gargash, the UAE’s diplomatic advisor, expressed appreciation for the supportive messages from the Gulf region and the global community, condemning Iran’s aggressive actions.
He characterized Iran as an aggressor, indicating that its behavior exacerbated tensions in the Arabian Gulf.
Gargash noted that Iran’s attack illustrated the “moral bankruptcy” of a regime that resorts to aggression when dealing with neighboring nations. He added that the UAE’s principled stance would remain firm in the face of escalating tensions.
On the other hand, Iranian state media reported that maps from the weekend displayed Iran’s extended control in the region, including Fujairah and Kolfakhan.
Additionally, Iranian announcements indicated the establishment of a new authority to regulate traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, issuing permits based on Tehran’s new regulations.
U.S. military leaders, including Gen. Dan Kaine, condemned Iran’s ongoing attacks, labeling the assault on Fujairah a “stunning defeat.” While noting that these actions have not yet crossed a threshold for larger-scale combat, Army Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that further aggression against U.S. forces or commercial vessels would meet a severe response.
Hegseth made it clear that the waters of the Strait of Hormuz belong to all nations and are not controlled by Iran.
President Trump remarked that Iran’s actions didn’t constitute the heavy fire that would disrupt the fragile ceasefire, emphasizing ongoing maritime activity despite the tensions.
Finally, an OPEC+ meeting led to a modest increase in crude oil production, responding to the consequences of Iran’s actions against the shipping lines. The UAE, having withdrawn from OPEC recently, is considering further expanding its production, although the recent OPEC+ statement did not mention its intentions.
