Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that Iran's armed forces are now "independent and somewhat isolated," and that the attacks in Oman were "not our choice," in an interview with Al Jazeera on Sunday.

Araghchi also claimed to have spoken with the Omani and Qatari foreign ministers on the subject.

This statement follows Iranian drones hitting Oman's Duqm Port on Sunday, with one striking foreign workers' residences, injuring one.

Debris from a second drone fell near fuel tanks at the port but caused no damage or injuries.

Oman and the Arab League condemned the incident.

Oman's Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi meets with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner ahead of the indirect US-Iran talks, in Geneva, Switzerland, February 17, 2026.
Oman's Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi meets with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner ahead of the indirect US-Iran talks, in Geneva, Switzerland, February 17, 2026. (credit: Oman’s Ministry Of Foreign Affairs/Handout via REUTERS)

Omani FM: 'Door open to diplomacy'

Later on Sunday, Oman's Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi wrote that the "door to diplomacy remains open," in a post on X/Twitter.

"Talks in Geneva made genuine progress towards an unprecedented agreement between Iran and the US, and although the hope was to avoid war, war should not mean that the hope of peace is extinguished," he wrote.

"I still believe in the power of diplomacy to resolve this conflict. The sooner talks are resumed, the better it is for everyone," he concluded, writing his post in English.

CENTCOM strikes Iranian vessels in Gulf of Oman

Nearby, the US carried out strikes on Iranian vessels in the Gulf of Oman, with US Central Command confirming that one was sunk.

US President Donald Trump later wrote on Truth Social that nine vessels had been sunk as of Sunday evening.