Lead

US President Donald Trump threatened to use military force against Oman if it collaborates with Iran to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway that handles more than 20 percent of the world's global oil traffic. The threat, made during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, came amid reports of talks between Muscat and Tehran about jointly overseeing passage through the strait.

"Nobody is going to control it," Trump said, according to multiple outlets. "It's international waters, and Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we will have to blow them up."

Oman, a longtime US ally, has not publicly said it intends to join Iran in controlling the strait. The country has historically played a mediating role between the Arab Gulf states and Iran and has helped facilitate talks between Washington and Tehran.

Coverage Comparison

Al Jazeera reported that Trump's comment was in response to a reporter's question about whether he would accept a short-term deal allowing Iran and Oman to control the strait. The outlet noted that while some speculated Trump may have misspoken and said "Oman" instead of "Iran," the US State Department later shared the comment on social media with a transcript referring to the Arab country.

Deutsche Welle reported that Trump was responding to a report by Iranian state television claiming an unofficial draft agreement existed to restore shipping traffic in the strait, with Iran and Oman jointly regulating traffic. The outlet quoted analysts saying Oman has traditionally maintained close ties with both Washington and Tehran.

The Guardian reported that Trump made the threat in a "casual aside" during a cabinet meeting, and noted that the US is scrambling to reopen the strait, which has been all but closed since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran. The Jerusalem Post reported that the threat put a longtime Gulf partner on edge and raised regional concerns over diplomacy and stability.

South China Morning Post and The Hindu reported that Trump threatened to attack Oman if it sides with Iran over reopening the strait, noting that Oman is a key US ally that has tried to mediate the Middle East war.

Key Claims

  • President Trump threatened to "blow up" Oman if it fails to "behave" over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by multiple outlets.
  • Oman has decades-long military and economic ties with the US, with a relationship stretching more than 200 years, according to Al Jazeera.
  • The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial waterway that handles over 20% of the world's global oil traffic, as reported by multiple sources.
  • Iran has closed the strait and begun to assert sovereignty over it, including charging tolls of as much as $2 million per ship, according to Al Jazeera. This has triggered a global energy crisis, The Guardian reported.
  • The US has struck Iranian targets, reportedly killing four members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which prompted an apparent Iranian retaliatory attack on an American airbase in Kuwait, The Guardian reported.
  • The US Treasury warned that it would "aggressively" impose sanctions on Oman if it helps Iran establish a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying Washington will "not tolerate" either country imposing fees on commercial ships, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Perspectives

US Administration: President Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have taken a hard line against any Iranian or Omani control of the strait, threatening military action and sanctions against Oman if it facilitates tolls. Trump insists the strait is international waters and must remain open to all.

Oman: While Oman has not publicly commented on the threat directly, its Information Minister, Abdulla Al-Harrasi, said in response to a Wall Street Journal report that "Oman stands ready to work with the United States and all responsible partners to promote stability, deter disruption, and safeguard our shared strategic interests." He also emphasized Oman's tradition of keeping channels of communication open and preventing tensions from escalating into conflict.

Analysts: Experts quoted by Deutsche Welle noted Oman's unique position as one of the few countries maintaining relatively stable relations with nearly all parties to the conflict. Marcus Schneider of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation said Oman has been among the Gulf states pushing hardest for de-escalation since the war began.