President Donald Trump threatens to bomb Oman if the US ally disrupts Washington’s strategy on the ongoing Iran conflict, according to a Fox News interview on Monday.
The explosive comment emerged just as diplomatic efforts to secure a new Strait of Hormuz shipping deal reached a critical turning point.
During a telephone conversation with Fox News reporter Trey Yingst, the US president issued an explicit warning to Muscat. The Gulf state has acted as a key mediator between Western powers and Tehran, but Washington has simultaneously pursued independent diplomatic tracks. Reflecting on the potential for regional mediation to clash with his own administration’s strategy, Trump delivered a blunt assessment: “If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the shit out of them.”
Strategic clash over Strait of Hormuz shipping deal
The warning came as Iranian officials announced they were close to finalising a transit agreement with Muscat. Since joint US and Israeli strikes hit Iran in February, Tehran has effectively closed the vital waterway. Roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the passage, making its recovery a top priority for global energy markets.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed in Tehran that “an understanding has been reached regarding the map of the transit route.” Baghaei added that both sides intended to complete technical details before releasing a joint statement. Muscat previously described these discussions as constructive, aiming to restore safe passage for commercial vessels.
However, financial demands remain a friction point. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi previously indicated that a full reopening required compensation from Washington for alleged breaches of earlier agreements. Iranian sources indicated Tehran sought fees between 5% and 7% of cargo values from transit ships.
Claims of US-Iran backchannel negotiations sparked denial
Trump also asserted during his Fox News call that Washington maintains direct US-Iran backchannel negotiations with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC holds vast military, political, and economic power within Iran, making direct contact highly significant.
Tehran swiftly rejected the claim. An IRGC spokesman told the semi-official Tasnim News agency that no discussions were taking place: “There are no talks taking place between IRGC officials and the Americans, and this lie by Trump is merely fantasies caused by the delusions and nightmares he has suffered as a result of defeat and desperation in the war.”
Expiry of Memorandum of Understanding deepens IRGC nuclear tension
The rhetoric coincided with the formal expiration of a 60-day Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 18 June. Intended to establish a framework for a permanent ceasefire, the temporary peace collapsed following renewed military strikes. Trump declared the ceasefire void on 8 July.
Despite the escalating friction and persistent IRGC nuclear tension, Trump insisted he felt no pressure to accelerate a resolution. “They’re good poker players, but they’re dying,” Trump remarked. “I have no time schedule. I’m not in a hurry.”
The president dismissed suggestions that domestic political pressures, including upcoming US midterm elections, influenced his military strategy. He also brushed off concerns regarding depleted American ammunition reserves, asserting that “what we’ve used is peanuts.”
Reinforcing his fundamental policy line on social media, Trump posted on Truth Social: “The number one goal is, and always will be, that Iran cannot have, in any way, shape, or form, a nuclear weapon.”
