Key Points
- Direct Military Threat: Speaking during a White House Cabinet meeting, President Trump explicitly warned that the US would take military action against Oman if it did not “behave like everybody else” regarding the international waterway.
- Rejecting Joint Control: The escalation followed reports that Iran has been negotiating a draft framework with Oman to jointly manage traffic and levy toll fees for vessels transiting the strait.
- No Correction from State Department: Despite widespread shock among diplomatic circles, the US State Department intentionally released the official transcript and video of Trump’s comments without any editorial corrections or clarifications.
- Stalled Peace Negotiations: Trump stated he is “not satisfied” with Iran’s latest terms in the ongoing peace talks, warning that the US is prepared to “finish the job” and resume active military operations if a perfect deal is not reached.
In a sharp and highly unexpected escalation of the Middle East maritime crisis, US President Donald Trump has threatened direct military action against Oman, one of Washington’s oldest and most critical partners in the Gulf region.
The controversy erupted during a White House Cabinet meeting when journalists questioned the President on whether his administration would accept an emerging, short-term agreement between Tehran and Muscat. According to reports from Iranian state television, the proposed framework would see Iran and Oman jointly managing traffic and charging transit fees to restore commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which has faced severe disruptions following the outbreak of US-led military operations.
Trump flatly rejected any such arrangement, emphasizing that the vital energy corridor remains strictly in international waters. In a casual yet severe aside that has deeply alarmed regional experts, Trump declared:
“The strait is going to be open to everybody. It’s international waters and Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we’ll have to blow them up. They understand that, they’ll be fine.”
The rhetoric has sent shockwaves through the international community because Oman has historically served as a neutral, trusted intermediary, frequently facilitating critical back-channel diplomacy and ceasefire negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
State Department Affirms Trump’s Direct Statement
Initial reactions from observers suggested that the President may have misspoken, intending to direct his warning at Iran rather than Oman. However, the US State Department swiftly dispelled those assumptions by publicly releasing the unedited video clip and exact transcript of the remarks on official channels, signaling that the White House intended for the explicit warning to stand as stated.
The White House also forcefully dismantled claims broadcast by Iran’s state-run IRIB TV, which alleged that a draft Memorandum of Understanding was close to being signed. The Iranian reports claimed the US had agreed to lift its naval blockade and withdraw military forces from the Gulf in exchange for a resumption of normal shipping. The White House explicitly labeled those media reports a “complete fabrication.”
Peace Talks Falter as US Demands Total Compliance
The sudden pressure on Oman highlights growing American frustration over the slow pace of the diplomatic tracks. While Trump indicated over the weekend that a comprehensive deal to end the conflict was close, his tone during the Cabinet meeting was considerably more unyielding. He accused Tehran of attempting to stall negotiations to “outwait” his administration ahead of the upcoming US midterm elections.
Trump reinforced that Washington is in no rush to conclude the negotiations unless the parameters align perfectly with US security objectives, including the absolute freedom of navigation through the strait and tight restrictions on Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile.
The President warned that if current negotiations fail to meet expectations, the United States and its regional allies are fully prepared to terminate the standing ceasefire and resume the full-scale military campaign originally launched on February 28.
