The UAE's Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei called on the international community to take a united stand against Iran's disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the world "must not become hostage to the situation," Interfax reported on April 1.

"The whole world must understand the potential impact of this crisis on the global economy if it continues. We must all speak as one that the movement of goods is an essential rule of world trade," Mazrouei said at an international transport and logistics forum.

The minister said the world needed to "seriously consider" whether Iran's transport infrastructure should continue to be used in future if Tehran does not guarantee safe passage through the strait.

"If Iran does not stop and guarantee the safe and unimpeded passage of all vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, the whole world will be held hostage by them," Mazrouei said.

He said the UAE's own infrastructure remained resilient and the country was continuing to deliver goods to its partners. The UAE is increasing transport capacity on the country's eastern coast and investing in alternative logistics routes to reduce dependence on the Hormuz chokepoint, he added.

The comments mark some of the strongest public remarks from a senior UAE official directed at Iran since the start of the war on February 28.

Abu Dhabi has faced direct Iranian strikes on its territory, with the UAE Ministry of Defence reporting it had intercepted more than 400 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and nearly 2,000 drones since the start of the conflict.

The UAE banned all Iranian nationals from entering or transiting the country on March 31.

Iran's parliament approved plans on March 31 to impose tolls on vessels transiting the Hormuz strait and to ban US and Israeli ships from the waterway, signalling Tehran's intent to retain long-term control over the chokepoint.