The US president warns that Oman, a US ally, \u2018will behave just like everybody else, or we will have to blow them up\u2019.<\/p>\n
United States President Donald Trump<\/a> has threatened to use military force against Oman if it collaborates with Iran to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, a reporter asked Trump to weigh in on the idea of Oman and Iran overseeing trade on the strategic waterway, which handles more than 20 percent of the world\u2019s global oil traffic.<\/p>\n Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list<\/p>\n \u201c\u200aWould you accept a short-term deal that allows Iran and Oman to control the strait?\u201d the reporter asked.<\/p>\n Trump replied with a seemingly offhand threat. \u201cNobody is going to control it. It\u2019s international waters, and Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we will have to blow them up.\u201d<\/p>\n While there was initial speculation that Trump might have misspoken and said \u201cOman\u201d instead of \u201cIran\u201d, the US State Department later shared<\/a> the comment on social media, with a transcript of the quote that referred to the Arab country.<\/p>\n Oman, which is known for its neutrality, has not said it wants to join Iran in controlling Hormuz. The US and Oman are close allies with a relationship that stretches more than 200 years.<\/p>\n The two countries have multiple cooperation treaties, including security partnerships, a free trade agreement and a science and technology deal.<\/p>\n