Oman has claimed that it has uncovered a United Arab Emirates (UAE) spy network that targeted its government and military.
The UAE have denied having links to any such network while a regional security analyst on Sunday said that he found the allegations puzzling.
"This is all very murky," Theodore Karasik, director of research and development at the Dubai-based Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, said.
"One possibility is that the UAE wants to know more about Iran-Oman relations because of Tehran and Muscat's long ties in security and military cooperation."
Oman's state news agency reported that its "security services uncovered a spying network belonging to the state security apparatus of the United Arab Emirates, targeting ... Oman and the way its government and military work".
It gave few details but an Omani government official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said a number of Omani nationals had been arrested, including some who worked for the government.
The Omani official said the arrests dated back about two months, but gave no other details.
