WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Oman, a U.S. ally, if it interferes with American efforts to resolve the conflict with Iran, escalating tensions with a country that has played a central diplomatic role in negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump made the threat during a phone interview on Monday, reporter Trey Yingst reported. Trump reportedly said that if Oman “gets in the way”, the United States would “bomb the shit out of them”.
The comments come as Iran and Oman said they were close to finalising an arrangement for commercial vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies traditionally flow. Shipping through the strait has dropped off sharply since the conflict began, but some ships have continued to cross it in limited numbers.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Monday that Tehran and Muscat had reached agreement on the route ships could take through the strait. He said the two sides were working to finalise the details before issuing a joint statement.
The proposed Iran-Oman arrangement has also become a contentious issue for Washington. Iran has demanded greater control over the shipping arrangements in the strait, but the United States has resisted any step that would limit international navigation or give Tehran more control over the waterway.
Trump says no extension of U.S.-Iran deal
Trump's warning came as a 60-day deadline under a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding expired Monday without a comprehensive agreement.
A memorandum signed in June called for an end to military operations and laid out a framework for negotiating a broader settlement. It also demanded safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days.
The deal collapsed quickly. Trump declared the ceasefire dead in July, while Iran later said the agreement had been frozen. Washington and Tehran still were far apart on several issues, from Iran's nuclear programme to sanctions, the U.S. blockade and compensation sought by Tehran.
Trump said no when reporters asked Monday whether the United States was seeking an extension of the agreement.
He also said there is no hurry to end the war and that Iran should surrender. He said stopping Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon remains the administration's top priority.
Disputed IRGC backchannel assertion
Trump also said in the interview that his administration had a direct backchannel to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC.
Iranian media quoted an IRGC spokesman as denying that such talks were taking place.
The conflicting claims were insufficient to independently determine whether there was an undisclosed channel of communication.
Oman between Washington and Tehran
Oman has long played a mediating role in U.S.-Iran diplomacy and is now involved in talks to restore some commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Much recent discussion has centred on the administration of the shipping lanes and the safe passage of vessels through the waterway. There have also been reports of disagreements over proposed fees and the role of Iran and Oman in regulating maritime traffic.
Separately, the United States has called for the waterway to be reopened and has opposed arrangements it believes could give Iran too much control over international shipping.
Trump’s recent comments pose a fresh headache for Oman’s role as mediator and raise questions about how Washington will react if an agreement is brokered, which the United States does not accept, between Tehran and Muscat.
For now, the diplomatic picture is at best murky. Iran has threatened more military action if talks fail, and Washington has ruled out extending the June deal. Cargo through the Strait of Hormuz is still well below normal, a key source of uncertainty for global energy markets.
