Washington: US President Donald Trump has threatened military action against Oman if the Gulf nation interferes with Washington’s efforts to reach a wider agreement with Iran, sharply escalating tensions as a 60-day negotiating period between the United States and Iran expired without a broader deal.
Trump made the warning during a Fox News interview on Monday, saying the United States would bomb Oman if it “gets in the way” of efforts concerning Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. The remarks were directed at Oman’s role in talks with Tehran over reopening the strategically vital waterway to international shipping.
Oman has traditionally maintained close ties with Washington while also serving as an important diplomatic channel between the United States and Iran. In recent months, Muscat has been working with Tehran on arrangements aimed at restoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route.
Iran has said it is working with Oman on a plan to manage shipping through the strait and has indicated that an understanding has been reached. However, details of the proposed arrangement remain unclear, while Washington continues to demand the full reopening of the waterway.
The latest confrontation comes as the 60-day period established for negotiations between the United States and Iran expired on Monday without a comprehensive agreement. The earlier arrangement had been intended to provide time for a ceasefire and negotiations on a broader settlement, including concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme and the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump has repeatedly stressed that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains the central objective of his policy. On Monday, he also indicated that Washington was no longer pursuing the earlier interim arrangement and suggested that Iran was unlikely to accept the type of agreement he considers necessary.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a major flashpoint in the conflict. The narrow waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is crucial for global oil and gas shipments. Continued uncertainty over its reopening has already contributed to rising energy prices, with Brent crude moving above $90 a barrel amid fading hopes of an immediate settlement.
Trump’s threat against Oman is particularly significant because Muscat is a US partner and has historically played a mediating role in Washington-Tehran diplomacy. Analysts warn that threatening a country involved in mediation could complicate efforts to restore negotiations and reopen the waterway.
With the 60-day deadline now expired and no comprehensive agreement in sight, the future of the Iran negotiations and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remain uncertain.
