Iranian Drones Have Reportedly Struck Oman's Oil Storage Facilities, Causing A Massive Fire
Iran's General Staff said it did not order strikes on Omani territory and that Oman remains a "friend and neighbor."
Oman’s oil storage facilities have been hit by drones, causing a huge fire as Iran is targeting oil facilities across the region in its latest escalation in retaliation after the US and Israel launched an unprovoked war against Iran on Feb. 28.
For decades, Oman has been one of Iran's closest allies in the Arab world.
Unlike most of its Gulf neighbours, Oman has maintained friendly ties with Iran even through the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, refusing to take sides and over the years, it has become a bridge between the West, Arab states and Iran.
Most recently, Oman has been mediating negotiations between the US and Iran over Iran’s nuclear program, which ended on Feb. 26 without a breakthrough.
On March 1, Iran began launching drone strikes on sites in Oman, initially targeting the Port of Duqm and the Port of Salalah.
Iran's foreign minister said the attacks on Oman were "not their choice" and were carried out by Iranian military units acting independently based on general instructions.
Iran's General Staff said it did not order strikes on Omani territory and that Oman remains a "friend and neighbor."
On Wednesday, March 11, drones struck oil storage facilities at the Port of Salalah in southern Oman, setting two fuel tanks on fire and suspending the port's operations.
Salalah port has become an increasingly important hub for tankers seeking to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has been blocking since the war began.
Oman’s state news agency, quoting an energy ministry official, said that there had been no disruption to the continuity of oil supplies or petroleum derivatives in the country.
Iran denied responsibility for the attack.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian told Oman's sultan in a phone call that the incident regarding Salalah port will be investigated, Iranian media reported.
A separate drone strike on March 13 hit an industrial zone in the city of Sohar, killing two people.
Other attacks have struck oil tankers off the coast of Muscat and near the Port of Khasab.
Iran has denied ordering the attacks.
Oil prices spiked above US$100 a barrel after the Salalah strikes.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has called the current crisis "the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market."
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