The United Arab Emirates has opened and begun operating a key overland pipeline which bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait at the mouth of the Gulf, a vital oil-trade route.

The new 370km (230 mile) pipeline carries oil from fields in the UAE's western desert to Fujairah - a major oil storage hub on the east coast.

With initial handling capacity of 1.5m barrels of crude a day, it gives the UAE direct access to the Indian Ocean.