ALBAWABA - Ties between Oman and Iran have fallen into one of their worst crises in decades, as Muscat accused Tehran of breaching its sovereignty in a slew of strikes linked to the mounting tensions between Iran and the United States.
The ship’s dramatic deterioration happened hours after senior Omani and Iranian officials wrapped up talks in Muscat over safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital maritime corridors. Oman said on Sunday that numerous sites in Musandam Governorate, overlooking the strait, had been targeted by drones, even while the diplomatic summit was taking place.
The escalation followed Iran’s claim that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz after firing missiles and drones at what it said were U.S. military targets across the Gulf. Tehran said the assaults were in reprisal for increased American raids on Iranian land, but also claimed responsibility for hitting logistical support facilities utilized by U.S. forces at Oman’s Port of Duqm.
In a rare diplomatic gesture, Oman summoned the Iranian ambassador and delivered a formal complaint, denouncing the strike as a breach of Omani sovereignty and urging Tehran to adhere to international law and the tenets of good-neighborly relations. Omani authorities also affirmed that they were taking all necessary measures to secure the country and protect its inhabitants.
The crisis intensified when a commercial ship, the GFS Galaxy, was attacked near the eastern coast of Oman. Omani rescue personnel extracted 23 crew members, while one sailor is still missing. The United States blamed Iran for the attack on the Cyprus-flagged ship. But Tehran said it had fired a warning shot at a vessel that was reportedly moving via an unapproved path.
The escalation was the latest in a series of strikes against Iranian military facilities by the U.S. Central Command, which said the operation was in response to attacks on commercial ships and regional security. Iranian state media later reported explosions in a number of coastal cities around the Strait of Hormuz.
For decades, Oman has maintained tight relations with Iran, acting as a reliable go-between for Tehran and Washington. The current standoff is the most serious test of that relationship in recent memory and has raised fears that one of the Gulf’s most vital diplomatic conduits might be imperiled just as regional tensions are mounting.
