ADNOC chief says Strait of Hormuz has never been Iran’s to close

ABU DHABI - Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Group Chief Executive of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), delivered a firm rebuke to Iran on Sunday, declaring that the Strait of Hormuz has never belonged to Tehran and that any attempt to close or restrict the vital waterway is nothing more than an effort to destabilise the global economy.

“The Strait of Hormuz has never been Iran’s to close or restrict. Any attempt to do so is not a regional issue; it is the disruption of a global economic lifeline and a direct threat to the energy, food and health security of every nation,” said Al Jaber in a post on X.

“Setting such a precedent is illegal, dangerous, and unacceptable. The world simply cannot afford it and must not allow it,” he added in a clear and direct statement that reflects growing frustration across the Gulf over Iran’s repeated threats to the world’s most important energy chokepoint.

His comments come as the month-long Iran-Gulf conflict enters its seventh week. Since launching a sustained campaign of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones against neighbouring countries on February 28, Iran has repeatedly threatened to block or mine the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow passage through which nearly one-fifth of global oil and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas flow daily.

Direct challenge to Iranian threats

Al Jaber’s intervention marks one of the strongest public positions taken by a senior Gulf official on the issue. As both a government minister and the head of one of the world’s largest oil companies, his words carry significant weight in energy markets and diplomatic circles.

The UAE has been directly affected by the conflict, with recent incidents including debris from an intercepted aerial threat striking ADNOC’s Habshan gas facilities, forcing a temporary suspension of operations and sparking a fire. Similar strikes have hit critical infrastructure in Kuwait and Iraq in recent days.

Analysts say Al Jaber’s statement underscores that any closure or restriction of the Strait would constitute a direct attack on international commerce, not a legitimate act of self-defence. It also reinforces the UAE’s long-standing position that freedom of navigation through the Strait is a global imperative that must be defended collectively.

The remarks come days after US President Donald Trump stated that American forces could reopen the Strait “with a little more time,” while urging Gulf nations to assume greater responsibility for its security. They also follow warnings from EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas that Iranian control of the waterway would set a dangerous “slippery slope” for international security.

ADNOC has already activated contingency plans to maintain production and export stability, but officials have repeatedly stressed that long-term security of the Strait depends on international resolve and deterrence against Iranian aggression.