Iran Targets Omani Island Navigation Base Amid Ongoing Strait of Hormuz Tensions

Iran launched an attack on an Omani island base on Tuesday, accusing it of aiding US military escorts for tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by state media. The target was Didamar, a small island strategically located at the entrance to the Persian Gulf, equipped with navigational facilities.

Tehran alleged that personnel on the island facilitated enemy oil smuggling, a charge that Omani officials acknowledged by confirming a loud explosion occurred at the site. This base has assisted in maritime navigation since the early 1900s.

“Smoke was seen rising from Oman’s Didamar Island following the reported attack on the navigation base,” sources indicated.

Recent social media videos showed thick black smoke emanating from the island post-strike. Iran’s persistent actions in the Strait of Hormuz are part of its efforts to regain influence over oil exports from the Persian Gulf, which have dropped below pre-war levels due to continuous US military escorts.

These escorts enable tankers to switch off their transponders and travel under protection near Oman, with danger resurfacing as Iran’s attacks intensify. In October, the Strait of Hormuz and its adjacent waterways saw 28 recorded incidents, surpassing the 19 reported at the conflict’s onset, with the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization tallying 130 incidents and 25 seafarer casualties since hostilities began.

Tuesday’s incident follows US strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island, a location known for housing missile and drone launchers of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, threatening the Hormuz Strait. While US-Iran hostilities continue in the region, diplomatic negotiations remain halted. Tehran remains focused on a seven-point agreement previously rejected by President Trump, who has restated his commitment to diplomacy despite ongoing conflicts, remarking on Monday that the conflict was “effectively over.”