In brief
In a phone call with a Fox News reporter, Trump said he would bomb Oman if it obstructs U.S. talks with Iran over reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The warning comes as the 60‑day Memorandum of Understanding between Washington and Tehran nears expiry, while Iran reports an agreement on transit permits. Oman's neutral role is now under scrutiny, and Trump’s claims of a backchannel with the IRGC raise questions about the fragile ceasefire in the region.
In a brief exchange with a Fox News reporter, President Donald Trump warned that Oman would be bombed if it interfered with the U.S. negotiations with Iran over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The remark, made over a phone call on Monday, also included a claim that the U.S. had a direct back‑channel with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Iran announced earlier Monday that it had reached an agreement with the U.S. on the transit of ships through the Hormuz strait, a move that could lead to the re‑establishment of a vital maritime passage for around 20 % of the world’s oil and natural gas. The two sides had signed a 60‑day Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 18 June, aimed at bringing a permanent ceasefire to the conflict that began after the U.S. and Israel struck Iran in February. The MoU is scheduled to expire on Monday.
Oman maintains a neutral stance in the conflict, but has faced attacks from Iran since the war began. In recent weeks, Omani officials described the talks with Iran as “positive.”
Trump’s warning to Oman came at a time when the U.S. is seeking to secure the reopening of a key shipping lane. “If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb them,” the president reportedly said, according to a Fox reporter. The claim of a back‑channel with the IRGC was denied by an IRGC spokesman, who said the U.S. had no talks with Iranian military officials.
The U.S. administration stressed that the president was not in a hurry to end the war. “They’re good poker players, but they’re dying. I have no timetable,” Trump said during the call. He also mentioned that the upcoming November midterm elections had “nothing to do with my thinking.”
Experts contend that Trump’s threat could complicate already fragile diplomatic efforts and risk escalating the conflict in the region. With the MoU’s expiry looming and the Strait of Hormuz’s status uncertain, the situation remains highly fluid and closely monitored by international observers.
