One Iranian was killed and another wounded in an exchange of fire between Saudi coastguards and a boat containing drugs smugglers, a security official said.

He said the clash took place on Friday when the coastguards intercepted a vessel off the Eastern Province that was attempting to smuggle drugs into the Kingdom. The boat had three Iranians and a Saudi.

A spokesman for border guards in the province said one Iranian was killed and the other three suspects, including a wounded Iranian, were arrested.

He said their 552 kg of hashish was seized.