Qatar, UAE, GCC chief condemn Iranian attack on Qatari tanker near Hormuz Strait

DOHA/ABU DHABI/RIYADH, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the chief of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Tuesday condemned an Iranian attack on a Qatari tanker near the Strait of Hormuz, with Qatar summoning Iran's deputy ambassador in Doha over the incident.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said on social media platform X that Qatar holds Iran "fully legally responsible" for the attack and any resulting damage and consequences, urging Tehran to immediately cease all such practices.

Later in the day, the foreign ministry issued a statement, saying it has delivered a protest note to the Iranian deputy ambassador to Qatar, in which it urged Tehran to provide urgent clarifications, take immediate measures to prevent recurrence, and fully comply with international law.

It said Qatar reserves all its rights to take any measures it deems appropriate, in accordance with international law, to safeguard its interests and capabilities.

In a statement carried by the Emirates News Agency, the UAE Foreign Ministry called the attack a "grave threat" to the safety and security of international navigation and a "dangerous escalation" undermining security and stability in one of the world's most critical maritime waterways.

It voiced the UAE's solidarity with Qatar and reaffirmed its support for all measures to protect Qatari vessels and national interests.

GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi also condemned the attack in a statement, calling it a dangerous escalation that threatens regional security and stability.

He affirmed the council's full solidarity with Qatar in all measures it takes to confront the attack.

Earlier on Tuesday, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported that the Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted two tankers attempting to cross the strait via a U.S.-backed Omani route on Monday night after they failed to heed warnings. Several media reports identified the two vessels as a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker and a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker, both of which were reportedly damaged.

On Tuesday evening, Iran's official news agency IRNA reported that Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei has called Qatar's condemnation "questionable," "unacceptable," and "contrary to the principle of good neighbourliness."

Baghaei urged regional countries and shipping companies to refrain from any actions contradicting the recently signed Iran-U.S. peace memorandum of understanding, IRNA reported. Enditem