The President has threatened military action against Oman if it obstructs Washington’s efforts to reach an agreement with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz…reports Asian Lite News Desk
President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to bomb Oman if it “gets in the way” of a deal with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions as Washington, Tehran and Muscat pursue negotiations over the key shipping route.
Trump made the threat while referring to ongoing talks between Oman and Iran over future arrangements for the strait, as the United States pursues separate negotiations. “If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the sh*t out of them,” Trump said.
Iranian and Omani officials have been holding discussions for weeks over future maritime navigation arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s foreign ministry said earlier on Monday that the two countries were working on a joint declaration.
The talks come amid ongoing uncertainty over the status of the strait, which Tehran effectively closed at the start of the war in the Middle East on February 28. Traffic through the waterway remains restricted.
Trump has repeatedly maintained that the strait is under US control. On Friday, he went further, claiming he could declare the Strait of Hormuz part of US territory. Iran responded by saying that the crucial energy waterway it has blockaded “will remain Iranian.”
Before the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran, the Strait of Hormuz was regarded as an open international waterway. It is one of the world’s most important shipping routes for energy supplies and also carries other commodities. Geographically, Iran’s coastline runs along the northern side of the strait, while Oman lies to the south.
Tehran has used its effective control of the waterway as leverage as it faces US-led efforts targeting its military and pressure to abandon its controversial nuclear power programme. Trump also stepped up his rhetoric towards Tehran, saying Iran should “put up the white flag of surrender,” according to a post on X by Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst following an interview with the President.
Despite the continuing conflict and negotiations, Trump said he was in no hurry to reach an agreement. The war has become an increasingly significant political issue in the United States ahead of November’s midterm elections, when control of Congress will be contested. Opposition Democrats are seeking to wrest control from Trump’s Republicans.
Trump also told Yingst that his administration has a direct back-channel with officials from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, suggesting that communication between Washington and Tehran is continuing despite the conflict and the President’s increasingly confrontational public statements.
“They’re good poker players, but they’re dying,” Trump was quoted as saying. The latest comments add another element of uncertainty to negotiations surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. Oman has traditionally played a diplomatic role in regional disputes and is now directly involved in discussions with Iran about the future operation of the waterway.
The outcome of those talks could have wider consequences because of the strait’s importance to international energy markets and shipping. With traffic still restricted, negotiations over maritime access have become closely linked to the wider confrontation between Iran and the United States.
Trump’s threat against Oman also broadens the rhetoric surrounding the conflict beyond Iran, even as diplomatic channels remain active. His simultaneous demand for Iranian surrender and acknowledgement of direct back-channel contacts underline how military pressure and negotiations are shaping Washington’s approach to the crisis.
