Muscat – Oman has intensified its efforts to repatriate citizens stranded in northern Iran, launching coordinated overland and maritime evacuation operations amid rising regional instability.

Oman’s Foreign Ministry, working closely with its embassy in Tehran, is managing a large-scale plan to ensure the safe return of all Omani nationals.

As part of this expanded effort, overland evacuation routes have been established through key border crossings with Turkey, Iraq, and Turkmenistan. These corridors were carefully chosen to provide safe access for citizens located in Iran’s West Azerbaijan, Khuzestan and Khorasan provinces.

The ministry is overseeing transportation, logistics, and all security measures in coordination with regional authorities.

Omani citizens currently in affected areas have been advised to remain where they are and wait for instructions from embassy field teams or the ministry’s support units, which are directly managing the repatriation process on the ground.

This surge in evacuation efforts follows the successful return of 313 Omani citizens who were brought back via sea from Bandar Abbas to Khasab on Monday night.

Among them was Fatima al Khaifia, who described the fear and uncertainty she endured during the recent Israeli strikes on the Iranian territory. “Thank God, we returned safely and securely to the sultanate after surviving the war in Iran,” she said. “We were in Shiraz when the attacks began. We heard bombs exploding behind us, and just after we were moved to Bandar Abbas, the area we left was bombed.”

Visibly emotional, Fatima recounted the moment she saw the rescue ship. “I didn’t feel safe until I saw the vessel. I cried with joy. I thank all the authorities who made it possible for us to return to our homeland.”

The Foreign Ministry reaffirmed that repatriation operations will continue in full force, in coordination with regional partners, until every Omani citizen who wishes to return has been safely evacuated.

Meanwhile, The Directorate General of Meteorology of Oman has denied rumours suggesting a dust storm is set to impact coastal areas of the sultanate from Iran.

In an official statement, the department clarified that no dust activity is forecast, according to the latest analysis issued by the National Multi-Hazard Early Warning Centre. “There is no indication of any dust wave moving towards the coastal regions of the Sea of Oman,” it said.

The clarification was issued in response to a message circulating widely on social media, which falsely claimed that a dust storm originating from Iran was expected to hit Oman.