US President Donald Trump on Monday issued a stark warning to Oman, threatening military action if the Gulf nation interfered with Washington’s efforts concerning the Strait of Hormuz, even as Muscat and Tehran moved closer to an agreement over shipping through the strategically vital waterway. Speaking during a telephone interview with Fox News, Trump used unusually strong language against Oman, a long-standing US partner that has played a significant diplomatic role in negotiations involving Iran. “If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the s*** out of them,” Trump said while discussing the negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz.
The remarks came as the 60-day window for negotiations between the United States and Iran expired without producing a comprehensive settlement to the conflict.
Oman and Iran have been working towards an arrangement governing maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy corridors. Iran has said negotiations with Oman are nearing completion, with the proposed arrangement expected to establish routes for ships travelling through the strait. The waterway has remained severely disrupted amid the prolonged confrontation involving Iran and the United States.
Under proposals being discussed, separate shipping corridors could be established near the Iranian and Omani sides of the strait for vessels travelling in different directions. The negotiations have assumed considerable importance because disruption in the narrow waterway has affected global energy markets and international shipping.
Oman has traditionally acted as an intermediary between Tehran and Washington and has repeatedly facilitated diplomatic communication between Iran and Western countries.
Trump's latest remarks indicate that Washington remains determined to retain considerable influence over any arrangement governing access to the strait. The US President said he was not operating under a fixed deadline to bring the confrontation with Iran to an end and maintained that Washington continued to exert significant pressure on Tehran. Trump also claimed that the United States remained in communication with elements within Iran, including through unofficial channels.
His comments came amid continuing disagreements over the conditions required for a lasting settlement. Washington has demanded guarantees concerning Iran’s nuclear programme and freedom of navigation through Hormuz, while Tehran has sought concessions including changes to US military and economic pressure.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea and is crucial to international energy supplies. Large quantities of crude oil and liquefied natural gas exported by Gulf producers normally pass through the narrow maritime corridor, making uninterrupted navigation through the strait a major concern for energy-importing countries.
Months of tensions and attacks on shipping have increased pressure for a diplomatic solution that could restore normal commercial traffic. Iran controls the northern side of the strait, while Oman occupies the southern side, giving both countries an important geographical role in any arrangement governing maritime movement.
Trump's warning places Oman in an increasingly difficult position as it attempts to maintain its traditional role as a mediator while negotiating directly with Iran over maritime arrangements. Muscat has historically maintained working relations with both Washington and Tehran, enabling it to act as a diplomatic bridge during periods of heightened confrontation.
The latest rhetoric, however, underscores the widening differences between Washington and regional players over how the Strait of Hormuz should be managed. With the 60-day negotiating period having ended without a final US-Iran agreement, attention is now turning towards whether the emerging Oman-Iran arrangement can ease the maritime crisis or instead become another source of confrontation.
Any further escalation surrounding Hormuz could have consequences extending far beyond the region, particularly for global shipping, energy supplies and oil prices.