UAE Hits Back At Iran After Two Ballistic Missiles Target Gulf Shipping

• The UAE says Iran fired two ballistic missiles towards the Emirates, with both missiles falling into the sea after being assessed as targeting maritime navigation.

• Abu Dhabi has suspended all trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran until further notice, citing escalating threats to regional and international security.

• The missile launches triggered a fresh emergency alert across the UAE, amid repeated attacks on vessels linked to state-owned oil giant ADNOC in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

• The escalation comes as Iran maintains that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until it reaches a peace agreement with the United States, raising fears of deeper disruption to Gulf shipping and global energy supplies.

August 18, () — The United Arab Emirates has hit back at Iran after accusing Tehran of firing two ballistic missiles towards the country in an escalation that has further heightened tensions around Gulf shipping and the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

The UAE Ministry of Defence, on Tuesday, stated that its air-defence systems detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran towards the country.

According to the ministry, the first missile fell outside the UAE’s territorial waters, while the second fell within the country’s territorial waters.

A subsequent assessment found that both missiles had fallen into the sea.

“Assessments carried out showed that the two ballistic missiles detected coming from Iran were targeting maritime navigation and fell into the sea”, the ministry said in a statement posted on social media.

The incident did not result in any immediate reports of casualties or damage on UAE territory.

However, Abu Dhabi responded with a major economic measure, announcing the suspension of all trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran until further notice.

The UAE Foreign Ministry said the decision was taken “in light of regional escalations that undermine regional and international peace and security.”

The move represents a significant deterioration in relations between the two Gulf neighbours, particularly given the UAE’s traditionally pragmatic approach to maintaining diplomatic and commercial channels with Tehran despite their strategic differences.

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Gulf Shipping At The Centre Of Escalation

The latest confrontation comes amid growing attacks and threats against shipping in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

Tankers and other vessels linked to the UAE’s state-owned oil company, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), have reportedly come under repeated attack in recent weeks.

The attacks have heightened concerns that the conflict is increasingly shifting towards commercial shipping, potentially threatening one of the world’s most important energy corridors.

The Strait of Hormuz is the principal maritime passage linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea. Any sustained disruption to the waterway could have far-reaching consequences for international oil and gas supplies, global shipping and commodity prices.

UAE HALTS TRADE and FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS with IRAN ‘UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE’ — FM

REASON: ‘REGIONAL ESCALATION’ pic.twitter.com/0AiZEVHxlE

— RTBreaking (@RT_Breaking) August 18, 2026