UAE-Iran tensions rise as IRGC seizes tanker

According to Iranian media reports on Wednesday, the seized tanker was en route to the UAE's Jebel Ali port when it was intercepted in the northern passage of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has seized a tanker linked to the United Arab Emirates, according to a report by Iran's Fars News agency on Wednesday.

This development appears to confirm earlier reports from Iranian state media regarding the seizure of a UAE vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.

Stock markets in the United Arab Emirates ended lower on Wednesday following the country's claim it had detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran. Abu Dhabi’s benchmark index fell by 0.9%, while Dubai’s main index slipped by 0.3%. The decline was attributed to investor reaction to the escalating regional tensions.

Iran has claimed to have seized a United Arab Emirates tanker in the northern channel of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media reports on Wednesday, August 19.

The reports stated that the vessel was en route to the UAE's Jebel Ali port when it was intercepted. The tanker is reportedly being moved to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas.

Official confirmation from the UAE is awaited. Pakistan News will update this story as more confirmed details become available.

Fresh reports on Tuesday, August 19, suggested a further escalation, with claims of missile attacks and fires at oil facilities in the UAE. The details surrounding these latest reports remain unconfirmed.

Iran has strongly denied the UAE's allegations of firing ballistic missiles, with Iranian official Ismail Baghaei calling the claims "baseless."

Separately, the UAE has reportedly raised its concerns with the United States regarding the escalating regional tensions with Iran.

Tensions between the United Arab Emirates and Iran have reportedly intensified following the end of a ceasefire, according to available reports on August 19. This development follows the UAE's earlier decision to suspend all trade and financial transactions with Tehran.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially confirmed the suspension of all trade activities, commercial exchanges, and financial transactions with Iran until further notice. In a statement, Afra Al Hameli, the ministry's Director of Strategic Communications, said the decision was made in light of growing regional tensions that threaten international peace and security. The ministry's statement added that the UAE remains committed to peace, dialogue, and regional integration, while also emphasizing the importance of protecting the integrity of the international financial system.

The United Arab Emirates has suspended all trade, commercial exchanges, and financial transactions with Iran until further notice, citing "regional escalations that threaten peace and security."

In a statement carried by the state news agency WAM, Afra Al Hameli, Director of the Strategic Communications Department at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed the move. She said the UAE had halted economic and financial dealings in response to regional developments but reaffirmed the country's commitment to dialogue and cooperation as a means of promoting peace.

The development follows claims by the UAE Ministry of Defence that two ballistic missiles originating from Iran had targeted maritime navigation before falling into the sea.