US President Donald Trump has threatened military action against Oman if the Gulf nation interferes with Washington’s efforts to reach an agreement with Iran and resolve the ongoing conflict.
Speaking to Fox News on Monday, Trump said, “If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the shit out of them.” The remarks mark the second time in recent months that Trump has directed a threat at Oman, a long-standing US partner that has traditionally played an important role in maintaining communication between Washington and Tehran.
Peace Talks Reach a Critical Deadline
Trump’s latest warning came as a 60-day negotiating period with Iran ended without a final agreement. The talks followed a memorandum of understanding signed by Trump and Iran on June 17 at the Palace of Versailles in France. The agreement set a maximum 60-day period for the two sides to negotiate a broader settlement, with an extension possible only through mutual consent.
The memorandum covered several major issues, including the end of military operations, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear programme and potential sanctions relief. It also called for discussions involving Oman over the future administration and maritime services in the strategic waterway.
Despite the deadline passing without a breakthrough, Trump said he was not in a hurry to reach a deal. He also called on Iran to surrender but did not announce another deadline for Tehran.
Trump Repeats His Warning to Oman
The latest threat is not the first time Trump has warned Oman over its role in the Strait of Hormuz. During a cabinet meeting in May, he had threatened to “blow up” Oman if it failed to “behave,” according to reports at the time.
Trump has also escalated his rhetoric over the strategic waterway in recent days. On August 14, he said he could declare the Strait of Hormuz a US territory, further increasing tensions over the route.
The strait connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is one of the world’s most important energy routes. Shipping through the waterway has been severely disrupted during the conflict, with traffic falling sharply in recent days.
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Oman Remains Central to Hormuz Diplomacy
Oman occupies a strategically important position south of the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran lies to the north. The two countries have been holding discussions over arrangements for shipping through the waterway.
Oman has also maintained longstanding military and economic ties with the United States and has played a mediation role between Washington and Tehran. The Gulf country has itself faced attacks during the conflict.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Monday that discussions with Oman were continuing. Iran and Oman are working on arrangements aimed at restoring commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports.
Trump Maintains Focus on Iran’s Nuclear Programme
Alongside his warning to Oman, Trump reiterated that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains his central objective.
In a post on Truth Social, he said the “number one Goal” was ensuring that Iran could not obtain a nuclear weapon. His comments came as diplomatic efforts remained stalled following the expiration of the 60-day negotiating period.
Trump also rejected concerns that the prolonged conflict was significantly reducing US weapons stockpiles. He described the amount of US military equipment used against Iran so far as relatively small and pointed to weapons previously supplied to Ukraine under former President Joe Biden.
Washington Confirms Direct IRGC Backchannel
Trump also disclosed that the United States had established a direct backchannel with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, for the first time publicly.
The IRGC has been a major target of US and Israeli military action during the conflict. Trump said discussions were taking place even as fighting and tensions continued.
His latest comments underline the difficult position facing diplomacy, with Washington seeking an agreement with Tehran while tensions over the Strait of Hormuz remain high and Oman continues its role in talks concerning the strategically vital waterway.
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