Iran cites mixed US signals as UAE speeds up pipeline to bypass Hormuz

TEHRAN: Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Washington was sending 'contradictory messages', which he said were making negotiations more difficult, according to comments carried by Iran's IRIB broadcaster and reported by Al Jazeera.

Araghchi also said Iran was not responsible for disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. He said Tehran did not start the war and was acting in self-defence. According to Al Jazeera, he repeated Iran's position that the waterway is open to ships from 'friendly countries' if they coordinate with Iranian authorities, while it remains closed to Iran's 'enemies'.

At the same time, the United Arab Emirates said it would speed up work on a new oil pipeline that would significantly expand its ability to export crude without relying on the Strait of Hormuz.

The Abu Dhabi Media Office said on Friday that the project would double the UAE's export capacity through Fujairah by 2027. It said Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed instructed the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company to fast-track the West-East Pipeline project during an executive committee meeting. The office said the pipeline is already under construction and is expected to begin operations in 2027, but did not give the original completion schedule.

The UAE already operates the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline, or ADCOP, also known as the Habshan-Fujairah pipeline, which can transport up to 1.8 million barrels per day. The line has been important for the country's efforts to increase direct exports from the Gulf of Oman coast.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia are the only Gulf oil producers with pipelines that can send crude exports outside the Strait of Hormuz, while Oman has an extended coastline along the Gulf of Oman. By contrast, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar and Bahrain depend almost entirely on the strait for their shipments.

The reports said the narrow passage between Iran and Oman was effectively closed by Iran in response to a US-Israeli air and naval campaign that began on February 28. The disruption has cut off about a fifth of global oil supplies that would normally move to Asia and other destinations.

As a result, energy prices have risen sharply, leading governments to ration fuel and increasing concerns about an economic slowdown as inflationary pressures grow.

US rewards offer and China's call for de-escalation

Separately, the US State Department announced rewards for information on six people it said were linked to the drone-production arm of Iran's IRGC Quds Force, identified as the Kimia Part Sivan Company, or KIPAS, according to Al Jazeera.

The State Department said the six individuals 'are involved in KIPAS’s testing, development and supply of drones'. In a post by its national security rewards programme, it said people who provide information about the individuals, their associates or financial networks could qualify for payments of up to $15 million.

Help us put a dent in the IRGC’s revenue stream.

the post said, according to Al Jazeera.

China also called for an end to the conflict on Friday as President Xi Jinping hosted US President Donald Trump on the last day of their summit in Beijing.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said: 'There is no point in continuing this conflict, which should not have happened in the first place.'

The spokesperson added: 'To find an early way to resolve the situation is in the interest of not only the US and Iran, but also regional countries and the rest of the world.'

China said that since a path to dialogue had opened, 'it should not be shut again,' and urged efforts to preserve momentum toward de-escalation, pursue a political settlement and use dialogue and consultation to reach an agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue and other concerns.

The spokesperson also stressed the need to reopen shipping lanes 'as soon as possible to respond to the call of the international community and jointly keep the global supply chains stable and unimpeded.'

China further said: 'It is important to reach a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire as soon as possible, enable peace and stability to return to the Middle East and Gulf region at an early date, and lay the foundation for building a sustainable security architecture for the region.'