United States President Donald Trump has threatened possible military action against Oman amid growing tensions over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a large share of the world’s oil shipments pass.
Speaking during a cabinet meeting in Washington on Wednesday, Trump warned that Oman “will behave just like everybody else, or we will have to blow them up” after reports emerged that Muscat was discussing a possible arrangement with Iran over management of shipping access through the strait.
The remarks came as the US-Iran conflict continues to intensify, with repeated military incidents and stalled ceasefire negotiations raising fears of wider regional instability.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints. Although regarded as an international shipping route, much of the waterway lies within Iranian and Omani territorial waters.
Iran has maintained tighter control over the strait since joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets earlier this year. Tehran has reportedly imposed heavy transit charges on vessels passing through the route, arguing they are service fees rather than illegal tolls.
Iranian state media recently claimed Tehran and Muscat were close to reaching an agreement on jointly overseeing maritime traffic through Hormuz. Washington has dismissed the reports, but analysts say Trump’s comments indicate growing US concern over any arrangement that could legitimise Iranian influence over the strategic passage.
Oman has not officially confirmed plans to cooperate with Iran on controlling the strait. The Gulf nation has traditionally maintained balanced ties with both Washington and Tehran and has often acted as a mediator during regional crises.
The US president’s comments drew criticism from analysts and rights advocates, who described the threat as reckless and damaging to regional diplomacy. Experts also warned that targeting Oman could destabilise one of the Gulf’s key neutral states.
Meanwhile, military tensions remain high across the region. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it fired warning shots at vessels attempting to pass through Hormuz without authorisation, while both US and Iranian forces continue to exchange strikes linked to the ongoing conflict.
Diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a lasting ceasefire have made little progress, with disagreements over regional security and shipping access continuing to fuel confrontation.
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