Oman’s government on October 2 banned the import of bottled water from Iran after two people died and others fell ill from consuming water branded Uranus Star, the Royal Oman Police said.

The move affects all bottled-water imports from Iran and comes amid a sweeping safety clampdown in the northern region of Al Batinah.

In the lead incident on September 29 in Suwaiq, an expatriate woman died shortly afterwards and an Omani man died on October 1 after two days in critical care. Several members of his family were also poisoned but have since recovered.

The ban comes within precautionary measures to ensure the safety of citizens and residents, with investigations continuing to uncover details of the incident, according to the statement.

Royal Oman Police called on all citizens and residents not to use the mentioned water and to immediately report any suspicions about it or any other similar water products.

The ban follows lab tests confirming the water was “contaminated” with harmful substances. Police, working with health authorities, have already begun withdrawing all Uranus Star stock from shelves. Authorities warned residents to “dispose of” any bottles immediately.

The decision has sharp economic reverberations. Oman imports a portion of its bottled water, and the ban disrupts import chains from Iran. Distributors are scrambling to pivot to alternate suppliers. Retailers say consumers have abruptly switched brands.

It also raises questions over regulatory oversight and cross-border trade standards. The government is now auditing food and beverage inspection protocols and tightening import checks.

Also, consumer confidence is shaken. Many have rushed to bulk-buy alternate brands. Some smaller vendors fear losses if they cannot restock quickly.

Investigations are ongoing. Police say they will prosecute anyone found responsible and will “follow through” on supply-chain links.