Jordan condemns targeting of vessels in UAE territorial waters

AMMAN — Jordan on Monday condemned the reported “sabotage operation” of commercial vessels in the UAE’s territorial waters, a Foreign Ministry statement said.

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi reaffirmed the Kingdom’s full support to the UAE against any threats to its safety and the Arab Gulf’s maritime security.

In a phone call with the UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Safadi expressed Jordan’s denunciation of the operation that targeted four vessels, including two Saudi oil tankers, near Fujairah Emirate, one of the world's largest bunkering hubs lying just outside the Strait of Hormuz. 

Safadi stressed the historic and strategic relations between the two countries as he and his Emirati counterpart affirmed the continuation of unity and solidarity in the face of all odds. 

Quoted in the statement, Ministry Spokesperson Sufian Qudah renewed the Kingdom’s firm stance that rejects any criminal act that threatens the Arab Gulf’s maritime traffic, whatever its source is.

He also reiterated the Kingdom’s determination to stand by the Emirati people against any attempt targeting the UAE’s security and stability. 

The UAE’s foreign ministry said the incident did not result in any casualties, without giving details of the nature of the sabotage or saying who was behind it, according to Reuters.

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil and gas shipping route, separates the Gulf states and Iran, which has been embroiled in an escalating war of words with the United States over US sanctions and the US military’s regional presence, the source added.