ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned reported missile and drone attacks targeting civilian infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates, expressing full solidarity with the Emirati leadership and people.
The statement comes a day after a drone strike on an energy facility in Fujairah injured three Indian nationals, with the UAE blaming Iran for the attack. Iranian state television, however, said the country had “no pre-planned programme” to target oil facilities in the UAE.
The Gulf state’s foreign ministry described the attacks as a serious escalation and a direct threat to national security, adding that the UAE reserved its “full and legitimate right” to respond.
In a post on X, the prime minister conveyed Pakistan’s support and extended solidarity to UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“Pakistan stands firmly with our Emirati brothers and sisters as well as with the Government of the United Arab Emirates at this difficult time,” he wrote.
Sharif also stressed the importance of maintaining the ceasefire, warning that further escalation would undermine regional stability. He urged all parties to preserve diplomatic space and prioritise dialogue for lasting peace.
“It is absolutely essential that the ceasefire be upheld and respected, to allow necessary diplomatic space for dialogue leading to enduring peace and stability in the region,” he said.
The attacks have disrupted a period of relative calm following a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire between United States and Iran that took effect on April 8, pausing over a month of intense fighting in the Gulf.
Monday’s strike was not the first targeting Fujairah’s energy infrastructure. A previous drone attack on March 14 hit the Port of Fujairah, causing fires and temporarily halting some oil-loading operations.
Fujairah plays a crucial role in the UAE’s oil exports, as it lies at the end of the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline, which transports crude from inland fields to the Gulf of Oman, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. This allows exports to continue even when the strait faces disruptions.
Fresh hostilities erupted after US President Donald Trump launched a new initiative to escort stranded tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy chokepoint that has been largely blocked since US and Israeli attacks on Iran began in February, a conflict that has killed thousands across the region.
By Monday, multiple merchant ships reported explosions or fires. The US said it had destroyed six small Iranian military boats, while an oil port in the UAE — which hosts a major US military base — was reportedly set ablaze by Iranian missile strikes.
Trump provided limited details about the initiative, dubbed “Project Freedom,” which aims to help ships navigate the strait. He announced the effort on social media, two days after a legal deadline had passed under US law requiring congressional authorisation for military action.
He told Congress the war had been “terminated” and that the deadline was therefore irrelevant, a claim contested by several lawmakers.
This marked the first apparent military move since last month’s ceasefire to reopen the world’s most critical energy shipping route. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned that passage through the strait would only be allowed with its approval. Meanwhile, shipping insurance costs have surged, and Iran has described the US naval blockade of its trade routes as an act of war.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the latest developments proved there was no military solution to the crisis. He noted that peace talks were progressing with Pakistan’s mediation, while cautioning the US and UAE against being drawn into a “quagmire by ill-wishers.”
Criticising the US escort initiative, Araghchi said: “Project Freedom is Project Deadlock.”