Oman Warns of Floating Object Suspected as Naval Mine West of Strait of Hormuz

Oman’s maritime security center issued a warning on Saturday about a floating object detected on the water’s surface west of the Strait of Hormuz, suspected to be a naval mine.

In an official statement, the Omani Maritime Security Center said: "Due to the sighting of a floating object suspected to be a naval mine west of the coastal transit area in the Strait of Hormuz within Omani territorial waters, the Maritime Security Center urges all sea users, fishermen, and vessels to exercise the highest degree of caution while navigating, avoid any suspicious objects, and report them immediately to the relevant authorities."

This alert follows recent remarks by the U.S. President, who threatened Oman with a strike if it attempted to control the Strait of Hormuz in cooperation with Iran, stating: "Oman will act like any other country, or we will have to blow it up."

Separately, Oman's Foreign Minister, Badr Al Busaidi, and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, held a phone conversation on Saturday. During the call, they reaffirmed their countries' commitment to ensuring the freedom and security of maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with their sovereign responsibilities over their territorial waters, consistent with international law and safeguarding the interests of all regional and international parties.