Oman, Iran hold talks on Strait of Hormuz: Omani state news agency

Oman and Iran held talks on easing passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the Omani state news agency reported Sunday, with the key shipping chokepoint effectively closed due to war in the Middle East.

"Oman and the Islamic Republic of Iran held a meeting at the deputy ministers' level in the foreign ministries of the two countries, with the attendance of specialists from both sides, during which the possible options were discussed regarding ensuring the smooth passage through the Strait of Hormuz," the news agency posted on X.

"The experts from both sides put forward a number of visions and proposals regarding it," it added.

In response to US and Israeli strikes that began at the end of February, Iran has targeted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, effectively closing the strategic waterway through which one-fifth of global oil usually passes.

The war has engulfed the Middle East and paralysed shipping in the Gulf, in particular. Iran has also attacked neighbouring countries' energy infrastructure in a conflict that has convulsed the global economy.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday Tehran had 48 hours left to cut a deal or face "all Hell", before Washington announced American forces had safely recovered a second airman downed in Iran.

On Thursday, Tehran said it was drafting a peacetime protocol that would supervise maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz with Oman, state media reported.

Deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi told Russia's Sputnik state media that the protocol would apply after the war with the United States and Israel ends, setting basic rules to manage ship movements, IRNA news agency said.

Last week an Iranian parliamentary committee voted to impose tolls on vessels in the strait and completely ban ships from the United States and Israel.

Earlier, critical infrastructure across the Gulf came under attack from Iran on Sunday with damage reported at civilian facilities in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait.

Gulf countries have faced repeated drone and missile salvos from Iran over past weeks in response to US and Israeli strikes that began at the end of February.

Iran has targeted energy and other industrial infrastructure in the oil-rich Gulf nations, accusing its neighbours of allowing US forces to carry out attacks from their territory. The Gulf states have vehemently denied the accusations.

Authorities in Abu Dhabi said on Sunday they were battling fires at a petrochemical plant in Ruwais Industrial City on the UAE's northwest coast. "Authorities are responding to multiple fires in Borouge petrochemicals plant, caused by falling debris following successful interceptions by air defence systems," the Gulf emirate's media office said.

"Operations at the facility have been immediately suspended while damage is assessed. No injuries have been reported," it added after the United Arab Emirates' defence ministry earlier said it was responding to missile and drone attacks.

Iran's army earlier said it was targeting "aluminium industries" in the UAE and US military infrastructure in Kuwait, the official IRNA news agency reported on Saturday.

The Islamic republic has repeatedly threatened civilian infrastructure in the Gulf countries as US-Israeli attacks in Iran have also hit targets that are key to the Islamic republic's economy.

On Saturday, a strike on a petrochemical hub in southwest Iran killed five people on Saturday, according to the deputy governor of Khuzestan province.

In Bahrain on Sunday, the kingdom's state energy company said an Iranian drone attack sparked a fire at a storage tank that was later extinguished.

"Bapco Energies confirms an incident occurred at one of its storage facilities earlier today resulting in a tank fire, as a result of a hostile Iranian drone attack," the company said, without specifying the location of the blaze.

"The fire has been fully extinguished, and the situation is under control. Damages are currently being assessed and evaluated. No injuries have been reported," it added.

Earlier, Kuwait's electricity and water ministry said two Kuwaiti power and water desalination plants were damaged by a drone attack from Iran causing "significant material damage and the shutdown of two electricity generating units".

Tehran's escalating threats have also extended to desalination plants on which the desert Gulf countries rely heavily for their water supply.