Chicago – August 17, 2026
President Donald Trump has threatened military action against Oman, a longtime US ally, accusing the Gulf state of potentially obstructing Washingtonâs efforts to negotiate with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz.
âIf Oman gets in the way, weâll bomb the s*** out of them,â Trump told Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst in a telephone interview on Monday, according to reports by BBC, ABC News and USA Today. The remarks came as Oman and Iran held separate discussions on reopening the strategic waterway.
Iranian officials said Tehran and Muscat had reached an understanding on a proposed maritime transit route, although details of a final agreement were still being negotiated. Oman has traditionally maintained a neutral position and has acted as an intermediary in US-Iran diplomacy.
The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial global shipping route, carrying roughly 20% of the worldâs oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. Its disruption has intensified economic and security concerns.
Trumpâs warning coincided with the expiration of a 60-day US-Iran memorandum of understanding signed in June. No comprehensive peace agreement was reached, while Iran called the deadline irrelevant, alleging that Washington had violated the arrangement.
