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From 1 March 2026, as part of the 2026 Iran War, Iran began launching a series of drone strikes on sites in Oman, initially targeting the Port of Duqm and the Port of Salalah, which are used by the United States. The attacks also struck two oil tankers, one off the coast of Muscat and another about five kilometres north of the Port of Khasab. A separate drone strike targeted an industrial zone in Sohar. The attacks killed 14 people and injured 18 others.

Background

Oman and Iran have consistently shared diplomatic and economic ties dating back to the Pahlavi period, as Oman considers Iran not to be a threat as perceived by the other Arab states of the Persian Gulf.

During the Pahlavi dynasty of Iran, the two countries had economic ties. During the Dhofar Rebellion in Oman, Mohammad Reza Shah intervened in support of the Omani government, providing troops and weapons.

Muscat has historically been a venue for diplomacy between Tehran and Washington. Since the early 2000s, Oman has hosted multiple rounds of nuclear and political talks between the two countries, whom have had no formal diplomatic relations since 7 April 1980.

In 2019, Oman and the United States made an agreement for US military access to the ports of Duqm and Salalah.[2]

Negotiations

Main article: 2025–2026 Iran–United States negotiations

On 12 April 2025, Iran and the United States began a series of negotiations aimed at reaching a nuclear peace agreement, with the first round held in the Al Alam Palace in Muscat. The second round of Omani-mediated talks took place in Rome on 19 April 2025, followed by a third high-level round in Muscat around a week later. On 25 February, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that a “historic” agreement with the United States to avert military conflict was “within reach”.[3]

A third round of indirect talks mediated by Omani foreign minister Badr Al Busaidi took place on 26 February, at the residence of Oman’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Switzerland. The talks happened in the morning and evening of this day, with a pause for the American negotiators to meet a Ukrainian delegation, and focused on Iran’s nuclear program.[4][5][6] In the midst of this round of negotiations, it was reported that the sides were far from reaching a deal.[7]

On 28 February 2026, the US and Israel launched a series of strikes against Iran, targeting key officials, military commanders, and facilities. Iran replied by launching strikes against Israel and American military bases in the Middle East, as well as civilian targets.[8][9] Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and a number of Iranian officials, including the Minister of Defense Aziz Nasirzadeh, and the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Mohammad Pakpour, were killed in the strikes.[8][10]

After the US-Israeli attack on Iran, Al-Busaidi said that he was dismayed and that “active and serious negotiations” had been undermined.[11]

Strikes

1 March

Following the initial Israeli–United States strikes on Iran, two drones hit Duqm Port in the Al Wusta Governorate, with one striking a mobile workers’ housing unit. The second was intercepted and neutralised, with debris falling near fuel storage tanks.[12][13] That same day, the oil tanker Skylight, sailing under the flag of Palau, was targeted 5 nmi (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) north of the Port of Khasab in the Musandam Governorate, resulting in four injuries.[14]

2 March

Omani authorities announced that an oil tanker flying the flag of the Marshall Islands was attacked by a drone boat approximately 52 nmi (96 km; 60 mi) off the coast of Muscat, triggering an explosion in the main engine room. The attack resulted in a fire and killed one crew member.[15][16] On the same day, a Honduras-flagged Bitumen ship was attacked and damaged by Iran.[17]

3 March

A fuel tank at Duqm Port was hit by several unmanned aircraft. The resulting damage was contained and no casualties were recorded.[18] On the same day, Oman reported intercepting two Iranian drones in Dhofar, while a third drone crashed near the Port of Salalah.[19]

4 March

A Malta-flagged Container ship Safeen Prestige was attacked by Iran, resulting in no casualties, but the ship was abandoned.[20]

6 March

The UAE-flagged tugboat Mussafah 2 was attacked by Iran in the Omani territorial waters of the Strait of Hormuz, killing four crew members.[21]

11 March

On 11 March, Salalah Port was once again targeted by drones, setting fire to two fuel tanks and suspending the port’s operations.[22] On the same day, another drone was intercepted north of Duqm.[23]

12 March

A drone was intercepted over the airspace of Khasab, with no casualties or damage reported.[24]

13 March

Two people were killed and several injured in a drone strike in Sohar.[25] One drone fell in the Al Awahi Industrial Area, killing two expatriates and injuring 10, while the other crashed in an open area with no casualties reported.[26][27]

18-19 March

During a period of two days, reports said there were attacks on energy facilities in Oman, mainly in the port of Salalah.[28]

28 March

Two drones crashed into the Port of Salalah, causing moderate injuries to one foreign worker, the attack caused minor damage to one of its cranes.[29]

3 April

a Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II was shot down by Iranian fire off the coast of Bukha, Oman, the pilot ejected but needed medical attention. The aircraft was destroyed.[30]

Reactions

Iran

On 2 March Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the attacks on Oman were not their choice and were carried out by Iranian military units that are acting independently based on general instructions that have been given to them.[31] Iranian General Staff said it did not order a military strike on Omani territory and stated Oman remains a “friend and neighbour”.[32] However Iran continued to carry out strikes even after the statement.[33]

Iran said it was not involved in the attacks on Salalah Port. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, the spokesperson for a key command unit of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, called the attack “very suspicious” and said Tehran was investigating it, according to Iranian state media, adding that he viewed Oman as a “friendly neighbouring and brotherly country”.[23]

United States

On 14 March, the US State Department ordered all non-essential government staff and their families to leave Oman.[34]

See also

References

  1. ^ Simkins, J. D. (3 April 2026). “A-10 Warthog crashes near Strait of Hormuz”. Military Times. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  2. ^ Stewart, Phil. “With an eye on Iran, U.S. clinches strategic port deal with Oman”. Reuters. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  3. ^ Rowlands, Lyndal (25 February 2026). “Iran’s FM says deal with US ‘within reach’; Trump says he prefers diplomacy”. Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 3 March 2026. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  4. ^ Dupraz-Dobias, Paula (26 February 2026). “Negotiators mount one more attempt in Geneva to prevent US-Iran war”. Geneva Solutions. Archived from the original on 27 February 2026. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  5. ^ Del Valle, Magdalena; Bartenstein, Ben (24 February 2026). “Witkoff, Kushner Plan for US-Iran Talks in Geneva on Thursday”. Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  6. ^ Ravid, Barak (22 February 2026). “U.S.-Iran talks expected Thursday to discuss nuclear proposal”. Axios (website). Archived from the original on 23 February 2026. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  7. ^ Faucon, Benoit; Ward, Alexander (26 February 2026). “U.S. Brings Tough Demands to Iran Nuclear Talks”. The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 26 February 2026. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
  8. ^ a b Gambrell, Jon; Toropin, Konstantin; Boak, Josh; Madhani, Aamer (28 February 2026). “US and Israel launch a major attack on Iran. Trump urges Iranians to ‘take over’“. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 28 February 2026. Retrieved 28 February 2026.
  9. ^ “Iran attacks luxury hotels and airports in Dubai”. Le Monde. 1 March 2026. Archived from the original on 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  10. ^ Zwartz, Henry (1 March 2026). “The US and Israel have struck Iran: Who has been killed?”. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 1 March 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  11. ^ Swanson, Ian (28 February 2026). “Oman foreign minister expresses dismay at US strikes on Iran: ‘This is not your war’“. The Hill. Archived from the original on 2 March 2026. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  12. ^ “1 injured in drone strike on Oman’s Duqm port amid US-Israeli confrontation with Iran”. www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  13. ^ “Drones strike Duqm port, oil tanker near Khasab”. Muscat Daily. 1 March 2026. Archived from the original on 1 March 2026. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  14. ^ “Oil tanker hit near Khasab; 20 crew members evacuated”. Times of Oman. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  15. ^ “Multiple Drones Strike Fuel Tank at Duqm Port in Oman”. Qatar News Agency. 3 March 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ “Another oil tanker hit by drone boat as Strait of Hormuz tensions rise”. euronews. 2 March 2026. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  17. ^ “Iran Claims Strike on Iran-Linked Bitumen Tanker”. The Maritime Executive. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  18. ^ “Drone hits fuel tank at Oman’s Duqm port”. Reuters. 3 March 2026.
  19. ^ “Israel attacks presidential office in Tehran as reported death toll in Iran rises to 787”. BBC News. 3 March 2026. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  20. ^ “Malta-flagged container ship hit by projectile in Hormuz, vessel abandoned, sources say”. Reuters. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  21. ^ “Salvage Tug Reported Attacked Near Straits of Hormuz with Crew Feared Dead”. The Maritime Executive. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  22. ^ “Drone strike hits fuel tanks at Omani port — state media”. The Times of Israel. AFP. 11 March 2026. ISSN 0040-7909. Archived from the original on 13 March 2026. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  23. ^ a b “Oman’s Salalah port halts operations after drone attack”. Argus Media. 12 March 2026. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  24. ^ “Oman says drone shot down over Khasab amid regional escalation”. www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  25. ^ “Oman: Two killed in drone strike in Sohar”. ynetglobal. 13 March 2026. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  26. ^ “2 expats die, some injured in Oman after two drones crash in Sohar”. Khaleej Times. Archived from the original on 13 March 2026. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  27. ^ “2 Indians killed, 10 injured in drone attack on Oman’s industrial hub of Sohar”. The Economic Times. 13 March 2026. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  28. ^ “The targeting of key Gulf energy infrastructure raises the risk of long-term disruption”. AP News. 19 March 2026. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
  29. ^ “Worker injured in drone attack on Oman’s Port of Salalah”. Gulf Times. QNA. 28 March 2026. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
  30. ^ Simkins, J. D. (3 April 2026). “A-10 Warthog crashes near Strait of Hormuz”. Military Times. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
  31. ^ “‘Not our choice’: Iran minister Araghchi on Oman strike, says military units now ‘independent’“. Hindustan Times. 2 March 2026. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  32. ^ Agency, Anadolu (3 March 2026). “Iran rejects any military attack on Oman amid Gulf conflict”. Daily Sabah. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  33. ^ “Oil facilities in Oman’s Salalah port ablaze after drone strikes”. Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 11 March 2026. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  34. ^ “US orders non‑emergency staff and families to leave Oman”. Iran International. 15 March 2026. Retrieved 15 March 2026.