Oman has presented a new draft proposal aimed at maintaining uninterrupted shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The proposal was made by Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi during a meeting in Muscat with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday, according to the report. The initiative seeks to ensure smooth maritime operations in one of the world’s most strategic waterways.

According to details cited by CNN from a source familiar with the discussions, the proposal suggests managing the vital passage through two separate control systems. The arrangement is designed to keep both the northern and southern routes of the strait open for navigation. The draft agreement has not yet been finalized, and discussions are ongoing.

If implemented, the plan could help stabilize maritime movement in the region by providing structured oversight of both channels of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy transport.

A missile attack struck an oil tanker near the coast of Lima, Oman, causing a fire onboard, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The incident occurred eight nautical miles east of Lima while the vessel was heading south. UKMTO confirmed that the missile hit the port side of the tanker.

Authorities reported no casualties or environmental damage from the attack. The cause and source of the missile strike have not been disclosed. Officials have launched an investigation into the incident to determine further details.

The UKMTO continues to monitor the situation as maritime security agencies assess potential risks in the area.

An Indian sailor has died aboard the vessel Celestial, which was anchored at Duqm port in Oman. The Indian Embassy in Muscat confirmed the death on Saturday night, stating that the sailor suddenly fell ill while on board and later passed away. The embassy added that arrangements are being made to repatriate the body to India as soon as possible.

According to Indian government data, more than 300,000 Indian sailors are currently employed on commercial ships worldwide, including over 18,000 working in various Middle Eastern countries. The incident follows the recent deaths of three Indian sailors in a U.S. strike on a tanker off the coast of Oman, which had already heightened concern in India.

The report also noted that opposition parties in India have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise the tanker attack issue with U.S. President Donald Trump during the upcoming G7 summit. India’s foreign ministry has summoned U.S. diplomats twice to express strong concern and lodge a formal protest over the attack on civilian vessels.

A fire broke out in the engine room of a tanker near the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The cause of the fire has not been disclosed. Local authorities reported that the incident occurred about 21 nautical miles northeast of Sohar, Oman.

The incident comes shortly after Iran’s central military command declared the strategic Strait of Hormuz completely closed following recent U.S. attacks. Iran warned that any vessel attempting to pass through the waterway would be treated as a target. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime route for global energy transport, and its closure has heightened regional tensions.

The timing of the tanker fire near the closed strait adds to concerns over maritime safety and the potential escalation of conflict in the region, though no link between the fire and the broader tensions has been confirmed.

An oil tanker caught fire near the coast of Oman, according to India's maritime authorities. The vessel, named 'Marivex' and registered under the Madagascar flag, had 24 Indian sailors on board, all of whom are reported safe. The incident was confirmed by Opesh Kumar Sharma, Director of India's Central Ministry of Ports and Shipping, during a press briefing.

Sharma stated that the ship was not carrying any cargo or oil at the time of the fire. Indian authorities, including the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions abroad, the Indian Navy, and the Ministry of Defence, are coordinating efforts to ensure the safety of the crew. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and relevant agencies are investigating the incident.

The event underscores ongoing maritime safety challenges in the region, though officials emphasized that no casualties or environmental risks have been reported so far.

A Bangladeshi expatriate named Shahidul Islam, aged 40 and a resident of Jamadargram in Mirsarai upazila of Chattogram, died in a road accident in Oman’s Berumi area on Saturday night. He was crossing the road when the accident occurred, and his body is currently kept at the Berumi Hospital morgue. Shahidul, locally known as Shahidullah, had been living and working in Oman for about 20 to 25 years as an embroidery worker. He had completed all preparations, including purchasing an air ticket, to return home on Thursday after a long period abroad.

According to relatives, Shahidul was returning home after buying gifts for his wife, children, and relatives when the accident took place. He died on the spot. Local residents and family members expressed deep grief, saying the family’s anticipation of reunion turned into mourning. Expatriate organization leaders in Oman have taken steps to send his body back to Bangladesh, with assurances of full cooperation.

The sudden death has cast a shadow of mourning over his village, where neighbors and relatives have prayed for his departed soul and extended condolences to the bereaved family.

An explosion occurred at Oman’s Mina Al Fahal oil terminal, leading to a suspension of operations at the country’s main crude export facility. According to a Reuters report citing sources, the blast took place near the terminal’s Single Buoy Mooring (SBM) berth, prompting authorities to stop oil loading activities.

Sources indicated that the explosion likely resulted from a suspected drone attack between SBM 1 and SBM 2 berths, though the exact timing of the incident remains unclear. Following the explosion, several supertankers were reportedly anchored outside the port area, suggesting a temporary disruption in maritime operations.

The incident has raised immediate operational concerns for Oman’s oil export infrastructure, though no further details on damage assessment or restoration timelines were available from the report.

Oman has assured the United States that it will not impose any toll in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besent said on Thursday that he had spoken with the Omani ambassador, who confirmed there were no plans to introduce tolls in the vital maritime passage. The assurance came during a White House briefing, where Besent emphasized the long-standing 200-year relationship between the two nations.

Besent noted that Oman did not wish to risk sanctions on its individuals or financial institutions. Earlier, he had warned that any Omani support for Iran’s toll initiative in the strait could trigger U.S. action. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump had also cautioned Oman against interfering in the key oil shipping route, stressing that the country must act like others or face severe consequences.

Besent later clarified that the president’s remarks were intended to highlight the U.S. commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Oman has come under geopolitical pressure after Iran claimed it was coordinating with Muscat on the future management of the Strait of Hormuz and the imposition of shipping tolls. The disputed waterway, through which about one-fifth of global seaborne oil passes, has been blocked for ten weeks following a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran in February. Washington has rejected any permanent solution that involves paying tolls to Iran, asserting that Oman shares the same stance.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently described the strait as a shared waterway between Iran and Oman, denying the existence of international waters there. Western diplomats have criticized Tehran’s proposals as illegal, arguing they would allow Iran to discriminate among vessels and violate UN sanctions. Meanwhile, France and the United Kingdom have presented Oman with an alternative plan emphasizing freedom of navigation, supported by most Gulf states.

The deadlock centers on whether coastal states can legally impose tolls. Iran has not ratified the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and insists it is governed by customary law. Tehran’s new Persian Gulf Strait Authority expects to generate revenue through registration fees, while uncertainty remains over China’s compliance with Iranian conditions.

Four expatriate brothers from Rangunia in Chattogram were found dead inside a car in the Muladda area of Oman on Tuesday night. Local police suspect that a gas leak or air conditioner malfunction may have caused toxic fumes to fill the vehicle, leading to their deaths. The bodies were discovered on Wednesday morning after locals alerted authorities. The deceased were identified as Rasedul Islam, Shahedul Islam, Sirajul Islam, and Shahidul Islam.

According to family sources, the four brothers had gone out to shop for the wedding of their fifth brother, who remains in Bangladesh. One of the deceased was married with two children, while another had recently married before moving abroad. The incident has cast a shadow of grief over their family and community in Rangunia.

Omani police are awaiting medical reports to confirm whether the deaths were accidental or caused by other factors. The bodies are currently under police custody in Rustaq and are expected to be transferred to Muscat for further procedures.

Romania has introduced a new conditional legalization program for foreign workers who have become irregular despite initially entering the country legally. The government issued Emergency Ordinance No. 32 on April 23, which was published in the official gazette on April 27. This measure allows non-EU workers meeting specific conditions to regain legal status. The initiative has been welcomed by the Embassy of Bangladesh in Romania, which said it could help many Bangladeshi workers regularize their stay.

The provision mainly targets those who entered Romania with valid work visas but later became irregular due to employer-related issues, such as job loss or administrative lapses. Workers must contact Romanian immigration authorities within 60 days of the law’s enactment, secure a valid employer, obtain a work permit, and then apply for a temporary residence card. Those who entered illegally or have received a return decision are excluded from the program.

The special legalization opportunity will remain effective until December 31 of the current year, and the Bangladeshi embassy has advised affected workers to seek its assistance if needed.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi has called for an extension of the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran. In a post on social media platform X, he urged all parties to pursue compromise to avoid further conflict, according to Al Jazeera. Al-Busaidi said that achieving success may require difficult concessions, but those would be far less painful than the suffering caused by war and failure.

He noted that before the recent escalation, he had discussed the situation with Vice President Vance, and both he and former President Trump had expressed a sincere and firm desire to prevent conflict. Oman had previously played a key mediating role between Washington and Tehran, but talks collapsed after US-Israeli strikes in late February.

Amid heightened tensions, new diplomatic efforts are underway to maintain and extend the ceasefire, with Oman once again advocating for restraint and dialogue.

Ishaq bin Salim Al-Siyabi, former vice president of Oman’s Shura Council, has called for a ban on all US products, accusing the United States of betrayal. In a post on social media platform X, he alleged that the US had acted treacherously during discussions aimed at resolving disputes and achieving lasting peace for all parties.

Al-Siyabi wrote that the United States was carrying out open, hateful, and unjust aggression against innocent people whose only crime was their desire for a dignified and peaceful life. He argued that there were now strong reasons to impose sanctions on all American goods.

Oman previously served as a mediator between the United States and Iran during the 2015 nuclear deal negotiations and has since attempted mediation in other regional matters, though with limited success, according to the report.

The United States has instructed its citizens in Oman to remain indoors under a 'shelter in place' directive. The order, issued by the US Embassy in Muscat, applies to the entire country and was announced on March 24, 2026. The embassy cited an ongoing situation as the reason for the alert but did not provide further details about the nature of the threat or incident.

Earlier, on March 3, the US Department of State had authorized the departure of non-emergency government employees and their family members from Oman. The latest advisory expands the caution to all American citizens currently in the country.

No additional information was released about the specific circumstances prompting the warning, leaving the situation’s cause and duration unclear.

Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi described the Iran war as former U.S. President Donald Trump’s “greatest miscalculation.” Writing in an opinion piece for The Economist, Albusaidi said he had mediated between Washington and Tehran before the conflict began. He urged U.S. allies to intervene to end what he called an “illegal war.”

Albusaidi noted that Gulf states, including Oman, had long relied on U.S. weapons and bases to deter potential Iranian attacks, enjoying relative peace and prosperity that are now under threat. He argued that the United States has lost control of its foreign policy and that its allies must speak the truth to help end the conflict. According to him, neither Iran nor the United States benefits from the ongoing war, which should end as soon as possible.

He further suggested that Israel may have “provoked” the United States into believing the war would be easily won, but achieving Israel’s goals would require U.S. troop deployment and a prolonged conflict that Trump had once vowed to avoid.