President Donald Trump has issued a direct threat against Oman, a US ally, warning that the country would be bombed if it "gets in the way" of his administration's separate negotiations with Iran. According to a Fox News report, the president made this threat while using an expletive during a phone interview.
The tension centers on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for the global economy that has been largely closed for nearly six months during the ongoing US-Iran war.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical transit point through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas typically passes. Since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran in February, Tehran has largely blocked the waterway, making its reopening a primary focus of international diplomatic efforts.
Oman, which borders the southern side of the Strait, has maintained a neutral stance in the conflict despite suffering multiple strikes from Iran. The country is currently playing a key role in negotiating with Tehran to facilitate the reopening of the route.
During the same interview with Fox, President Trump claimed that the US maintains a direct backchannel with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a major military, economic, and political force in Iran. However, an IRGC spokesman explicitly denied this claim.
The spokesman told the semi-official Tasnim News agency that no such talks are occurring, dismissing Trump's statement as a "lie" and "fantasies caused by the delusions and nightmares he has suffered as a result of defeat and desperation in the war."
Trump's threat against Oman was issued just hours after Iran announced that the two nations had reached an agreement regarding the map of the transit route. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated that both sides would finalize the details before issuing a joint statement, and Oman has previously characterized these discussions as positive.
Earlier this month, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that a full reopening of the Strait is contingent upon Iran receiving compensation from the US for alleged violations of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Reports from Reuters, citing an Iranian official, suggest that Tehran is seeking fees between 5% and 7% of cargo prices for vessels using the Strait.
Despite the ongoing war, Trump stated during the interview that he is in no hurry to conclude the conflict, describing Iranian officials as "good poker players" who are "dying." A previous MoU signed on June 18, intended to establish a ceasefire and partially reopen the Strait, collapsed shortly after both sides resumed strikes.
On July 8, Trump declared the ceasefire "over" and criticized Iran's leadership. As the MoU neared its formal expiry on Monday, Trump posted on his Truth Social network that the primary goal remains ensuring that Iran cannot possess a nuclear weapon in any form.
