US President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Oman if the Gulf state interferes with Washington’s efforts to secure the reopening of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Trump made the warning in an interview with Fox News on Monday, saying the United States would “bomb the s*** out of them” if Oman “gets in the way” of US efforts over the waterway.
The threat comes as Iran and Oman work towards an understanding on a transit route through the Strait, with Tehran saying the two countries had reached an agreement on the map of the proposed route.
The Strait of Hormuz, which lies between Iran and Oman, is one of the world's most important energy corridors, with roughly a fifth of globally traded oil and natural gas previously passing through it. Its prolonged closure has disrupted shipping and contributed to higher fuel and commodity prices.
Trump has repeatedly insisted that Iran must not be allowed to control the waterway, while Iran has maintained that it has authority over passage through the strait. The competing claims have heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Oman has traditionally played a diplomatic role in the region and has been involved in efforts to facilitate communication between Iran and the United States. Trump's latest warning therefore risks adding another layer to an already volatile regional crisis as negotiations over the future of the Strait of Hormuz continue.
