{"id":463180,"date":"2026-05-27T20:36:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T20:36:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/463180\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T20:36:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T20:36:08","slug":"trump-threatens-to-blow-up-oman-as-us-iran-talks-stall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/463180\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump threatens to ‘blow up’ Oman as US-Iran talks stall"},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON \u2014 US President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened military action against Oman if the Gulf state were to partner with Iran in asserting joint control over the Strait of Hormuz<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What happened: Speaking during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump dismissed the prospect of any country controlling the strategic waterway, through which roughly a fifth of global oil shipments generally transit.<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody\u2019s going to control it. We\u2019re going to watch over it. We\u2019ll watch over it, but nobody\u2019s going to control it. That\u2019s part of the negotiation that we have. They would like to control it,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n

Trump then directed comments at Oman following reports that Muscat and Tehran are discussing a fee system for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n

\u201cOman will behave just like everybody else, or we will have to blow them up. They understand that. They\u2019ll be fine,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n

PRESIDENT TRUMP: The Strait is going to be open to everybody. It\u2019s international waters. We\u2019ll watch over it, but nobody\u2019s going to control it.<\/p>\n

Oman will behave like everybody else or we\u2019ll have to blow them up. They understand that. pic.twitter.com\/hCs1tIhZGP<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Department of State (@StateDept) May 27, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Bloomberg first reported on May 21 that Iran was in discussions with Oman about imposing fees on vessels passing through the strait. The New York Times, citing two sources familiar with the talks, later reported that the discussions did not involve a proposal to levy a toll for passage through the strait, but rather \u201ca proposal to charge vessels fees for services.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reached by Al-Monitor, Omani officials were not immediately available for comment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Background: The comments surprised regional observers given Oman\u2019s status as one of Washington\u2019s closest Arab Gulf partners. The two countries have maintained defense cooperation agreements for decades, allowing US forces access to Omani ports and air bases critical to operations in the Gulf and Indian Ocean. Oman also enjoys a free trade agreement with the United States.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Oman<\/a> has long served as a mediator between the United States and Iran, including by facilitating secret back-channel talks that helped pave the way for the 2015 nuclear deal reached under former President Barack Obama.<\/p>\n

Before the United States and Israel launched their military campaign on Feb. 28, Oman hosted indirect talks between the two sides. In early February, Trump\u2019s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi<\/a> met in Muscat for nuclear negotiations that were ultimately unsuccessful.<\/p>\n

Muscat has also cultivated ties with Iran and positioned itself as an intermediary in regional disputes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Know more: Trump suggested on Wednesday that any future deal with Iran could hinge on broader normalization with Israel by Saudi Arabia and other Muslim-majority countries.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m not sure we should make the deal if they don’t sign,” Trump said.<\/p>\n

Despite saying over the weekend that an agreement to end the Middle East war was close, Trump indicated Wednesday that he was in no rush to finalize a deal.<\/p>\n