Trump Threatens to Bomb Oman Over Iran Strait Negotiations

President Donald Trump threatened to “bomb the shit out of” Oman, a U.S. ally, if the nation interferes with U.S. efforts to reach a deal with Iran, according to a report from Fox News. The threat comes as both Washington and Muscat pursue separate negotiations with Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit point that has been largely closed for nearly six months.

Strait of Hormuz Access and Diplomatic Friction

The Strait of Hormuz serves as a primary artery for the global economy, with approximately a fifth of the world’s liquefied natural gas and oil typically passing through the waterway. Following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran in February, Tehran largely blocked the strait. Reopening this passage is the central objective of current diplomatic efforts, according to the BBC.

Oman, which borders the southern side of the strait, maintains a position of neutrality in the conflict. Muscat is currently engaged in negotiations with Tehran to secure the waterway’s reopening, while the U.S. administration is pursuing its own parallel track. Fox News reporter Trey Yingst reported that Trump issued the threat during a phone interview, stating, “If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the shit out of them.”

Conflicting Claims on Iran Backchannels

During the same interview with Fox News, President Trump asserted that the United States maintains a direct backchannel with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a major military, economic and political force in Iran. This claim was explicitly denied by an IRGC spokesman.

Speaking to the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim News, the IRGC spokesman stated there are no talks between the IRGC and Americans. He characterized Trump’s claim as “fantasies caused by the delusions and nightmares he has suffered as a result of defeat and desperation in the war.”

Status of U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding

The timeline for a formal U.S.-Iran agreement remains uncertain. A 60-day Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two nations is currently expiring. When asked by BBC News in the Oval Office on Monday if he was seeking an extension to the MoU, Trump replied, “No.”

This refusal to extend the MoU coincides with reports from Iranian officials that they are close to finalizing a separate deal with Oman.