Egypt expressed concern on sabotage acts near UAE: former diplomat

CAIRO – 14 May 2019: Mohamed Hegazi, former assistant foreign minister, commented on Egypt's formal statement issued following acts of sabotage of four commercial vessels off the UAE's eastern coast.

He said that Egypt's statement expressed concern of such serious incident, which took place in light of the tensions currently witnessed in the Gulf.

The Emirati foreign minister said on Sunday that the vessels were of various nationalities, warning in a statement that subjecting these vessels to sabotage and threatening these vessels' crew is "a dangerous development."

Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said on Monday that two Saudi oil tankers were among the targeted vessels, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.

Hegazi said in an interview with Extra News that Egypt confirmed its solidarity with the UAE in the face of all challenges.

He also referred to the current accusations and threats between Iran and the US, adding that Egypt confirmed its stance considering the Gulf security as an integral part of Egypt's national security.

Egypt's Foreign Ministry earlier condemned the sabotage against the commercial ships, expressing the country's rejection of any action attempting to harm the UAE's national security and the safety of its land and sea borders, MENA reported.

The statement stressed Egypt's solidarity with the UAE government and people in facing all challenges and standing against all attempts to destabilize the Gulf country.

It pointed to strong relations binding the two countries and their joint action to counter all threats to the Gulf state's national security, taking all necessary measures to maintain the UAE's security and stability.

Iran called for full investigation into the incident, which took place near Fujairah port in the Gulf just outside the Strait of Hormuz. In February,Iran threatened to "close" the strait in case it was prevented from using the waterway.