Trump Threatens Military Action Against Oman Over Iran Negotiations
US President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Oman, a key American ally, if the country "gets in the way" of his administration's negotiations with Iran, according to a Fox News report. The threat comes as a 60-day Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran expires, leaving the future of direct talks between Washington and Tehran highly uncertain.
Both the United States and Oman have been negotiating separately with Iran to secure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The vital maritime waterway, which typically handles about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas, has been largely closed for nearly six months during the ongoing US-Iran war.
A reporter for Fox News stated that President Trump made the threat against Oman during a phone interview, using an expletive to warn the Gulf nation. Fox reporter Trey Yingst quoted Trump as saying, "If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the shit out of them." It remains unclear what specific actions the Trump administration would view as interfering with its diplomatic ambitions.
Separate Diplomatic Tracks and the Strait of Hormuz
The threat was reported shortly after Iranian officials announced they were close to finalising an agreement with Oman. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, told reporters that "an understanding has been reached regarding the map of the transit route," adding that both sides would finalise details before releasing a joint statement. Oman has previously described these discussions as positive.
Oman, which borders the southern side of the Strait of Hormuz, maintains that it is a neutral country in the conflict. Despite its neutral stance, Oman has suffered several military strikes from Iran and has taken on a significant role in negotiating with Tehran to restore transit through the waterway.
The conflict escalated in February following joint military attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel. In response, Tehran largely blocked the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier this month, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that a full reopening of the waterway would require Iran to receive compensation from the US for alleged violations of the MoU. Reuters previously reported that Tehran was seeking transit fees of between 5% and 7% of cargo values from vessels passing through the Strait.
Expiration of the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding
The 60-day MoU between the US and Iran, signed on 18 June, was intended to establish a ceasefire and partially reopen the Strait of Hormuz. However, the agreement collapsed shortly after its signing when both nations resumed military strikes. On 8 July, Trump declared the ceasefire "over" and insulted Iran's leadership.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump was asked by BBC News if he was seeking an extension to the expiring MoU, to which he replied, "No." As the agreement reached its formal expiration, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, stating, "The number one goal is, and always will be, that Iran cannot have, in any way, shape, or form, a nuclear weapon."
Claims of Backchannel Communications Denied
During his interview with Fox News, Trump also claimed that the United States has established a direct backchannel with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a powerful military, economic, and political institution in Iran. Trump indicated he felt no urgency to resolve the conflict quickly, saying of the Iranians, "They're good poker players, but they're dying," and adding, "I have no time schedule. I'm not in a hurry."
The IRGC quickly rejected Trump's claim of direct communications. A spokesman for the military force told the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim News that "there are no talks taking place between IRGC officials and the Americans." The spokesman dismissed Trump's statement as a fabrication resulting from "delusions and nightmares" following military setbacks.
