In brief
President Donald Trump, during a Fox News interview, threatened to bomb Oman should the country obstruct United States efforts to negotiate a release of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz with Iran. Trump also claimed a direct backchannel with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a claim denied by Iranian officials. While Iran announced a tentative agreement with Oman for the strait’s reopening, Trump’s remarks intensified fears of broader military escalation. The 60‑day US‑Iran Memorandum of Understanding expires on Monday, adding urgency to the fragile diplomatic dance.
In a heated interview on Fox News, former President Donald Trump warned that the United States would bomb Oman if the Gulf nation "gets in the way" of its negotiations with Tehran over allowing commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump also claimed a direct backchannel with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The claim was rejected by an IRGC spokesperson, who called it "a lie” born of Trump’s desperation after the war with Iran.
Iran has recently announced an accord with Oman to reopen the strait, with officials saying the two sides have reached an understanding on the transit route. Oman, traditionally a neutral actor in the Middle‑East dispute, has faced multiple strikes from Iran since the conflict escalated in February.
The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Its blockade has been a major flashpoint since Washington and Israel launched attacks on Tehran, prompting fears that a proxy conflict could spill over.
The 60‑day Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran, signed on 18 June, aims to renew peace talks. It expires on Monday, the same day Trump’s threat was made, adding urgency to the situation.
While Trump framed the backchannel as a necessary step, he also said he was not in a hurry to end the war, describing Iranian “poker players” as “dying” and noting that American stockpiles had been "peanuts" in comparison to the war’s demands.
The statement arrived as Iranian officials said the two sides had finalised terms for shipping, seeking compensation from the U.S. between 5% and 7% of cargo value. The prospect of a military response to Oman’s neutrality threatens to disrupt international trade and regional stability.
