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Iran is holding the Strait of Hormuz hostage and free passage through the waterway must be restored to ensure the stability of global markets, Dr Sultan Al Jaber said on Wednesday after meeting US Vice President JD Vance and other American politicians.
His comments capped a busy day of UAE diplomacy in Washington, with the country's ambassador to the US, Minister of State Yousef Al Otaiba, also pushing for a “conclusive outcome” to the war that addresses all Iranian threats.
Dr Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, also received an award as the Iran conflict rages and the Strait of Hormuz remains mostly shut.
“When Iran holds Hormuz hostage, every nation pays the ransom, at the gas pump, at the grocery store, at the pharmacy,” he said at a gala hosted to celebrate the Middle East Institute's 80th anniversary. The influential think tank honoured him with the Distinguished Global Leadership Award.
Dr Al Jaber, who also is managing director and group chief executive of Adnoc, said Iran's closure of the strait amounted to economic terrorism, echoing comments he made in an address to CERAWeek in Houston on Monday.
“No country can be allowed to destabilise the global economy in this way. Not now, not ever,” he said. He struggled to understand why the world tolerates “extortion on a global scale”, he added.
He said Iran had fired more than 2,200 missiles and drones at the UAE since the war started on February 28, accounting for 60 per cent of its total attacks. “We did not seek this conflict. We worked hard to prevent it. But when it came, we were ready – our defences held, our people stood firm, our country kept running,” he told the gala.
In a post on X earlier, Adnoc said Dr Al Jaber and Mr Vance “discussed the fact that energy security equals global security, and that restoring free passage through the Strait of Hormuz is the only durable solution to stabilising global markets”.
The post added that the two also emphasised the strength of UAE-US relations across key sectors, including security and other domains. “Our partnership is not out of convenience. Our partnership is tested in peace time and proven under fire,” Dr Al Jaber said at the gala, which took place at a Washington hotel.
MEI award
The MEI event was attended by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, along with hundreds of officials, business leaders and diplomats.
Several credited Dr Sultan's leadership and his contributions to global partnerships and the energy sector, including his goal of eliminating gas flaring and achieving zero methane emissions across the oil and gas industry by 2030.
Meanwhile, Mr Al Otaiba wrote in a comment piece that Iran must not be allowed to hold the UAE, US and the global economy to ransom.
“A simple ceasefire isn’t enough. We need a conclusive outcome that addresses Iran’s full range of threats: nuclear capabilities, missiles, drones, terror proxies and blockades of international sea lanes,” the long-standing envoy to the US wrote in The Wall Street Journal.
Mr Al Otaiba said 95 per cent of Iran's attacks had been intercepted. He also affirmed the UAE's willingness to join an international initiative to reopen the strait and outlined some of the steps the Emirates had taken to try to avert a war.
Mr Al Otaiba said that, until hours before the first strikes of the war on February 28, Emirati officials undertook “intensive diplomatic efforts” from Tehran to Washington.
“We made clear to the Iranians that in the event of a war, UAE territory and airspace wouldn’t be used for strikes on Iran,” he wrote. “We knew we would be Iran’s first choice of targets. Not only because we are so near, but because we are so different.”
Mr Al Otaiba said that Iran “can't accept” the concept of the UAE being a “modern, progressive, prosperous Muslim society that delivers for its people”.
“We empower women and welcome all faiths. The UAE is the argument Iran can’t win, the idea it can’t accept,” he wrote, noting that his country and its economy will absorb the shock of the war.
Adnoc also posted on X that Dr Al Jaber met several key US politicians, including Republican senators Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy.
“From Ohio to Pennsylvania, Louisiana to South Carolina, one message is clear: energy security is economic security,” Adnoc wrote.
UAE Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh also attended the meetings.
