Saudi Arabia Condemns Iran's Attack on Oil Tankers in Strait of Hormuz

The Saudi Arabian government has strongly condemned Iran’s attack on the Saudi tanker Wedyan and a Qatari tanker as they transited the Strait of Hormuz. “These attacks represent an assault on international navigational security and global energy supplies,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement, as reported by Al Arabiya on Wednesday (8/7/2026).

The Saudi government warned that Iran’s continued attacks constitute a “grave violation” of international law and norms that guarantee freedom of maritime navigation and safe passage through waterways. Saudi Arabia also called on Iran “to immediately cease all practices” that threaten regional security, international maritime navigation, and global energy supplies. The Saudi government added that it holds Tehran “fully responsible” for the consequences of these attacks.

This statement was issued after three tankers were reportedly struck by Iranian missiles in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday (7/7), including an LNG carrier at risk of exploding. Tehran has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in the attacks.

Following the incident, the United States military announced on Tuesday evening that its forces had completed a new operation targeting Iran’s air defences, missile launch sites, command networks, and military vessels in retaliation for the latest attacks on commercial shipping. US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that its forces struck more than 80 Iranian-related targets, describing the action as a “devastating blow to Iran to deliver severe impact.” CENTCOM said the strikes targeted air defence systems, coastal radar sites, anti-ship missile capabilities, and more than 60 small boats belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The operation was a direct response to Iran’s targeting of commercial vessels in the international shipping lane.