Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Iran on Wednesday for targeting the Saudi oil tanker Sidr as it transited the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the attack resulted in fatalities among the vessel's crew.
In an official statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the ministry said it expressed "stern condemnation" of the action. The statement read: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's condemnation of the Islamic Republic of Iran's targeting of the Saudi tanker (Sidr) while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and resulted in fatalities among the tanker's crew."
Beyond the incident involving the Sidr, Saudi Arabia also condemned what it characterized as Iranian attacks directed at three neighboring nations. The ministry stated that it condemns "the Iranian attacks targeting the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the State of Kuwait."
In response to these actions, Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its position on regional security matters. The ministry said it "affirms its full solidarity with the brotherly countries and its support for all measures they take to safeguard their security and sovereignty against any threat."
The Saudi Foreign Ministry also emphasized the importance of de-escalation and international maritime norms. According to the statement, Saudi Arabia "stresses the need to halt escalation and respect the security and safety of international navigation, the security of global energy supplies, the principles of good neighbourliness, the sovereignty of states, the Charter of the United Nations, and international law."
The Strait of Hormuz, through which the Sidr was transiting at the time of the alleged attack, is a critical waterway for global energy supplies and international maritime commerce.