Iranian source claims Israel staged Oman attack to damage Tehran-Muscat ties and destabilize Gulf diplomacy amid widening war.
Key Developments
- An Iranian security official told Al-Mayadeen that Israel orchestrated a "false flag" attack targeting fuel storage facilities in Oman.
- The source alleged the operation was carried out through an unnamed Arab country closely aligned with Israel.
- Fuel storage tanks at Salalah Port in Oman were struck on Wednesday, triggering fires and infrastructure damage.
- Oman had played a key role in mediating Iran-US negotiations before the war erupted.
- Separate public claims about alleged Mossad plots in Gulf countries have fueled debate about possible regional false-flag operations.
'False Flag' Attack on Oman Fuel Tanks?
A senior Iranian security official has accused Israel of orchestrating a "false flag" operation in Oman, claiming the attack was designed to inflame tensions between Tehran and Gulf states and undermine regional diplomacy.
In remarks to Al-Mayadeen, the official said recent attacks targeting fuel storage facilities in the Omani port city of Salalah were carried out as part of a broader Israeli strategy to destabilize the region.
The source said Iran had obtained "accurate intelligence information" indicating that Israel was responsible for the operation.
According to the official, the attack was conducted through an Arab country that maintains extremely close ties with Israel and acts as a "contractor" for Israeli expansionist projects in the region.
The strikes come amid Iranian attacks on energy production, storage sites throughout the Gulf in response to ongoing US-Israeli attacks.
Attack on Salalah Fuel Facilities
Fuel storage tanks at Salalah Port, one of Oman's most important maritime hubs, were targeted in an attack Wednesday that triggered fires and damage to infrastructure.
Iran denied any involvement in the incident.
The Iranian official told Al-Mayadeen that the attack was designed to make it appear as though Tehran was responsible.
"The attacks targeting Oman fall within a 'false flag' scenario managed by the Israeli entity," the official said, according to the report.
The source added that regional intelligence services had previously warned that the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could attempt to exploit the current regional turmoil to retaliate against certain Gulf countries.
"Oman is among the most prominent countries targeted by this plan," the official said.
According to the report, the attack on Salalah was carried out by agents linked to the unnamed Arab country and occurred hours after Muscat announced a firm new position opposing Israeli regional projects.
Oman's Role as a Mediator
The allegation is particularly sensitive because Oman has long served as a key diplomatic bridge between Iran and the United States.
Muscat hosted several rounds of indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington in the months leading up to the war.
Following the outbreak of hostilities, Oman publicly expressed alarm at the escalation.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi said that diplomatic efforts had been making progress before the war derailed them, writing that "Talks in Geneva made genuine progress towards an unprecedented agreement between Iran and the United States."
He added that "war should not mean that the hope of peace is extinguished," emphasizing that diplomacy remained the only viable path to resolving the crisis.
Earlier, Oman's Foreign Ministry also expressed "deep regret" over the military escalation, warning that the attacks carried "grave risks of expanding the conflict and causing severe consequences for the region."
Oman has historically maintained a neutral foreign policy and has frequently acted as a mediator in disputes involving Iran, the United States, and other regional powers.
Allegations of a Wider Strategy
The Iranian official told Al-Mayadeen that the alleged operation in Oman fits into a broader Israeli strategy aimed at widening the war.
According to the source, Israel may seek to carry out attacks in Gulf countries and blame them on Iran, thereby driving a wedge between Tehran and neighboring states.
Similar allegations have circulated in recent political debates outside the region.
On March 3, American commentator Tucker Carlson claimed during his program that authorities in Qatar and Saudi Arabia had arrested Israeli Mossad agents allegedly planning bombings in Gulf countries.
"Why would the Israelis be committing bombings in Gulf countries, which are also being attacked by Iran?" Carlson asked, according to reporting by Anadolu Agency.
However, the claims remain disputed. Nevertheless, the incident underscores growing fears that attacks on infrastructure in Gulf states could deepen mistrust and widen the regional conflict as the war continues.
This article originally appeared on the Palestine Chronicle, an EU based nonprofit.