Why Is Trump Again Threatening to Bomb Oman?
Sarah Shamim
US President Donald Trump has again threatened to bomb Oman if it obstructs a US-Iran peace deal, as talks over the Strait of Hormuz stall. Iran and Oman are negotiating a shipping agreement, but Washington insists Tehran must cede control of the strait.
US President Donald Trump has again threatened to bomb Oman if the country “stands in the way” of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran. The remarks came as Iran and Oman negotiate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran has repeatedly refused direct talks with Washington.
In an interview with Fox News on Monday, Trump said Iran should surrender and claimed his administration had opened a direct line of communication with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). When asked about Oman’s role, Trump responded: “If Oman stands in the way, we will bomb them.”
The IRGC spokesman denied any direct dialogue channel, calling the claim a “lie” and an “illusion” born of Trump’s failures in war.
Repeated Threat
This is not the first time Trump has threatened Oman. In May, during a cabinet meeting, a reporter asked about the possibility of Iran and Oman jointly overseeing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump replied: “Nobody is going to control it. That’s international waters, and Oman will have to behave like everyone else, or we will blow them up.”
The US State Department later reposted the comment on social media, confirming Trump was referring to Oman, not Iran.
Strait of Hormuz Tensions
For weeks, Iran and Oman have been engaged in direct negotiations, mediated by Qatar, to reach an agreement on managing maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz – a vital route that carried about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) before the war broke out.
On Monday, Iran said the two countries had agreed on a new shipping route and were preparing a joint statement. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei described it as the first mechanism designed to protect the sovereign rights of both littoral states and ensure safe passage for commercial vessels.
The potential deal could run counter to Washington’s core demand that Iran relinquish control of the Strait of Hormuz as a condition for ending the war. Experts suggest Trump may also be angered by the US being excluded from any agreement concerning the strait.
Professor Laleh Khalili, a Gulf expert at the University of Exeter, noted: “A mediated solution without US involvement, allowing Oman and Iran to manage Hormuz traffic, would show how weakened America is.”
The US and Iran are also sharply divided over whether Iran can charge fees for ships passing through the strait. In late July, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Iran against taxing vessels in Hormuz. Days earlier, Trump said there would be no tolls unless imposed by the US.
On August 14, Trump told supporters he planned to declare the Strait of Hormuz “US territory” after defeating Iran. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded defiantly: “The Strait of Hormuz cannot be seized by a tweet, an aircraft carrier, a decree, or a campaign speech. Iran is not afraid of threats or shows of force.”
Oman, traditionally neutral, has not publicly stated its intention to join Iran in controlling the strait. The US and Oman are close partners with nearly 200 years of relations, including multiple security and free-trade agreements. However, Oman has suffered several Iranian attacks targeting US military assets in the region.
The crisis has sent global oil prices soaring. Brent crude has at times exceeded $100 per barrel, reaching as high as $119, compared with around $66 before the war began.
