MUSCAT – Oman on Sunday issued a formal protest to the Iranian ambassador following an attack on the country, state media reported, in a rare instance of it publicly accusing Tehran of targeting its territory.
“Oman expresses its profound dismay at these irresponsible acts, and underscores the imperative of adhering to the provisions of state sovereignty, good neighbourliness, non-interference in internal affairs,” the state news agency said in a post on social media, just a day after Oman hosted the Iranian foreign minister for talks on the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, it said 23 crew members from a commercial ship while one was missing after the vessel was struck off the Gulf sultanate’s eastern coast.
“Twenty-three crew members were rescued and provided with necessary medical care. Search operations are continuing for one crew member who remains missing,” Oman’s Maritime Security Centre said in a statement.
The agency said it had received a distress call from the Cypriot-flagged GFS Galaxy 4.4 nautical miles off the coast of Musandam Governorate.
The signal came after the vessel was struck during the latest exchanges of fire between Iran and the United States.
US Central Command said the ship had been disabled by fire and damage to its engine room, accusing Tehran of attacking it.
Earlier, India’s foreign ministry said of 11 Indian nationals on board, 10 had been rescued, adding that one was missing.
British maritime agency UKMTO said the crew had abandoned ship and were on a lifeboat, around 17 kilometres (10 miles) east of Oman.
The attack came as Tehran announced it was closing the Strait of Hormuz and launched missiles and drones at its Gulf neighbours in retaliation for new US strikes.
The Indian foreign ministry said the attacks on commercial shipping in the region were “deeply worrisome”.
“The targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end,” it said.
“Free and unimpeded navigation… through the international waterways in the region, in keeping with international law, must be restored at the earliest.”
The exchange of fire threatens an interim agreement aimed at ending the Middle East war, which began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, including one that killed former supreme leader Ali Khamenei. -AFP
