H.E. Dr Sultan: open the Strait unconditionally – no strings attached
In a pointed and urgent call to action following the US-Iran ceasefire, His Excellency Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNOC, has demanded the immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Warning that “conditional passage is not passage,” H.E. Dr Al Jaber emphasised that the current restrictions on the waterway imposed by Iran are not merely a regional dispute, but a direct assault on the principles of international trade and global economic stability.
Restricted, conditioned and controlled access
“This moment requires clarity. So let’s be clear: the Strait of Hormuz is not open. Access is being restricted, conditioned and controlled. Iran has made clear — through both its statements and actions — that passage is subject to permission, conditions and political leverage. That is not freedom of navigation. That is coercion,” H.E. Dr Al Jaber wrote on LinkedIn on Thursday.
The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s key arterial route for transporting 20% of global crude from major suppliers. More than 16.5 million barrels of oil a day flowed through the Strait before the Middle East conflict, according to Reuters. Exports from Qatar, the world’s third-largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter, must transit through the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait also serves as a strategic chokepoint for crude exports and refined petroleum products such as diesel from the Gulf.
“The Strait was not built, engineered, financed or constructed by any state. It is a natural passage governed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantees transit as a matter of right; not a privilege to be granted, withheld or weaponized,” H.E Dr Al Jaber said, adding: “Conditional passage is not passage. It is control by another name. The Strait must be open — fully, unconditionally, and without restriction.”
He observed that energy security and global economic stability depend on the Strait, and the weaponisation of this vital waterway cannot stand. “This would set a dangerous precedent for the world — undermining the principle of freedom of navigation that underpins global trade and, ultimately, the stability of the global economy,” he said.
“An estimated 230 vessels sit loaded with oil and ready to sail. They, and every vessel that follows, must be free to navigate this corridor without condition. No country has a legitimate right to determine who may pass and under what terms.
“Energy producers must be able to swiftly and safely restore production at scale. At ADNOC, we have loaded cargoes and we will expand production within the constraints of the damage we have suffered. We have a responsibility to our customers and our partners to move them, as long as the safety of our people is ensured,” H.E. Dr Al Jaber said.
Early on Wednesday, the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire that is expected to halt the American-Israeli military campaign in exchange for Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump said the ceasefire is subject to Iran reopening the Strait, and will allow an agreement “to be finalised and consummated.”
As the final cargoes that transited the Strait before the conflict begin to reach their destinations, the global energy market is hitting a wall. H.E. Dr Al Jaber highlighted a looming 40-day gap in global energy flows that is now moving from paper-traded speculation to physical reality.
“Markets remain at a critical crossroads. The final cargoes that transited the Strait of Hormuz before the conflict are now arriving at their destinations. This is where the paper traded markets are meeting physical reality, and the 40-day gap in global energy flows is truly exposed.
“The immediate priority is clear: close that gap. Restore the more than 20% of globally traded energy that flows through this corridor. Rebalance markets. Ease the pressure on prices and the cost of living. This is particularly urgent for Asia, where 80% of these cargoes are bound and half the world's population lives,” H.E. Dr Al Jaber said.
Delays deepen the disruption
Warning that every day the Strait remains restricted, the consequences compound, he said: “Supply is delayed, markets tighten, prices rise. The impact is felt beyond energy markets, in economies, industries and households worldwide. Every day matters. Every delay deepens the disruption.”
H.E. Dr Al Jaber was also clear about the UAE’s consistent position during the conflict and the ensuing ceasefire: “The UAE has reiterated its position that following the substantial and illegal attacks on UAE civil and energy infrastructure, Iran must be held accountable and fully liable for damages and reparations. Stability now depends on restoring real flows. Not partial access, not temporary measures, not controlled passage, but full and reliable supply. That is how we slow the economic shockwave already moving through the system.”
