Trump Threatens to ‘Blow Up’ Oman Over Strait
President Donald Trump threatened to "blow up" Oman, a US ally, over control of the Strait of Hormuz after Iranian state television reported a draft agreement between Iran and Oman to jointly manage commercial shipping traffic through the strategic waterway. Trump's threat prompted US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to issue a formal warning to Oman on Thursday, declaring that the United States would "aggressively target any actors involved, directly or indirectly," in implementing tolls on the strait and would penalize "any willing partners."
Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei condemned Trump's threat as "another dangerous sign of the normalisation of lawlessness and bullying in international relations." The escalating crisis follows a US military strike against an Iranian drone operation near the Strait of Hormuz, which prompted Iran's Revolutionary Guard to attack a regional US air base and warn of a "more decisive" response to further aggression.
Despite the intensified military tensions, unnamed US officials disclosed to Axios that American and Iranian negotiators have reached agreement on a 60-day memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire and begin negotiations on the central nuclear issue. The agreement awaits Trump's approval, indicating a potential diplomatic off-ramp exists alongside the escalatory rhetoric and military exchanges.
Trump's threat to a NATO-aligned ally demonstrates his willingness to use military force against partners who do not comply with his demands, contradicting the principle of coalition-building essential to American foreign policy. Bessent's Treasury warning reinforced the administration's position that any nation facilitating the proposed Iran-Oman arrangement would face economic sanctions, effectively attempting to unilaterally dictate terms for one of the world's most critical shipping lanes.
(Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/us-trump-threatens-oman-strait-of-hormuz-b2985366.html)