US President Donald Trump has threatened military action against Oman if Muscat interferes with Washington’s efforts to reach an agreement with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz.
“If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the s*** out of them,” Trump told Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst, referring to ongoing Omani-Iranian discussions on arrangements for navigation through the strategic waterway.
Iranian and Omani officials have been holding talks for several weeks on future maritime navigation through the strait. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday that the two sides were working on a joint declaration.
Trump, however, has repeatedly claimed that the Strait of Hormuz is under US control, despite the continued restrictions on maritime traffic. Tehran effectively closed the waterway after the outbreak of the Middle East conflict on February 28.
Trump on Friday also said he could declare the Strait of Hormuz part of US territory, prompting Iran to reject the claim and insist that the strategically important waterway would remain under Iranian control.
Before the US-Israeli war against Iran began, the Strait of Hormuz was regarded as an open international waterway and served as a major route for global energy shipments. A significant share of the world’s oil supply normally passes through the narrow maritime corridor.
Iran has used its control over the strait as leverage against US-led efforts to weaken its military capabilities and force Tehran to abandon its nuclear programme.
Iran borders the northern side of the waterway, while Oman lies along its southern side.
Trump also called on Iran to “put up the white flag of surrender”, according to Yingst’s account of the interview posted on X.
The US president said he was not in a hurry to reach an agreement with Tehran, despite growing domestic opposition to the war ahead of the November midterm elections, in which Democrats are seeking to regain control of Congress.
Trump also claimed that his administration maintained a direct back-channel with officials of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, describing them as “good poker players” but saying they were “dying”.
