United Arab Emirates Condemns Iranian Navigational Threats in Strait of Hormuz as Global Economic Warfare

UAE Minister Reem Al Hashimy warns that Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz endanger 20% of global oil and 33% of fertilizer exports. Immediate action urged.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 4, 2026, 5:28 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Arabian Business

Escalation of Aerial Hostilities Against Civilian Infrastructure

The security situation in the Arabian Gulf has reached a critical tipping point following a massive surge in kinetic attacks targeting non-military assets. During a high-level diplomatic meeting, Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, revealed that the Emirates have been forced to neutralize more than 2,500 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones since late February. According to Al Hashimy, these strikes have deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure despite the UAE maintaining a non-combatant status in the broader regional conflict, signaling a shift toward indiscriminate aggression.

The Strait of Hormuz as a Global Economic Chokepoint

The strategic importance of the waterway cannot be overstated, as it serves as the primary transit route for 20 percent of the world’s oil and a quarter of its natural gas. Emirati officials highlighted that the Strait also facilitates the movement of 70 percent of global petrochemical supplies, making any obstruction a matter of international catastrophe. The UAE has categorized the ongoing harassment of commercial vessels as a form of economic warfare, warning that the legal and physical blockade of such a vital corridor has no basis in international law and threatens the lives of thousands of seafarers.

Direct Threats to International Food Security and Agriculture

Beyond energy markets, the disruption of Gulf shipping lanes poses a secondary, equally devastating threat to the global food supply chain. Gulf nations are responsible for approximately 33 percent of the world’s fertilizer exports, which are essential for agricultural productivity in both developing and industrialized nations. According to Al Hashimy, any prolonged restriction on the movement of these chemical components will lead to a spike in global food prices and potential shortages. The UAE maintains that the consequences of these maritime disruptions will be felt globally, rather than being confined to the immediate geographic region.