United States President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Oman if the country gets in the way of an agreement between Washington and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump made the threat on Monday while speaking to Fox News journalist Trey Yingst, as diplomatic efforts continue over the strategic waterway.
“If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the shit out of them,” Trump was quoted as saying, referring to ongoing talks between Oman and Iran over future arrangements for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian and Omani officials have been holding discussions for weeks, with Iran’s Foreign Ministry saying on Monday that both countries were working on a joint declaration concerning the waterway.
Trump has, however, maintained that the United States should have control over the Strait, despite the route remaining heavily restricted since Iran effectively closed it following the outbreak of the Middle East war on February 28.
The US President also said Iran should “put up the white flag of surrender”, while insisting that he was not under pressure to reach an agreement with Tehran.
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most important energy routes, carrying a significant share of global oil and gas shipments.
Iran has used its control over the waterway as leverage against the United States and its allies amid the ongoing conflict and efforts to force Tehran to abandon its controversial nuclear programme.
Trump also claimed that his administration had established a direct back-channel with officials of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
“They’re good poker players, but they’re dying,” Trump said, according to Yingst.
The latest threat has further raised tensions around the Strait, with any military confrontation involving Oman potentially widening the conflict in the Gulf.
