U.S. President Donald Trump threatened military action against Oman during a cabinet meeting, citing reported talks between Oman and Iran over controlling the Strait of Hormuz.
11:32 AM
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to "destroy" Oman during a cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday, stating the country must "behave" or face military action.
Trump made the remarks in response to reports that Oman and Iran have discussed jointly charging tolls for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway that handles more than 20 percent of global oil traffic.
"Oman will behave like everyone else or we will have to destroy them," Trump said during the press appearance from the White House. "They understand. They will be fine."
Trump emphasized that the strait must remain open to all vessels. "The strait is going to be open to everybody. Nobody's going to control it," he stated during the cabinet meeting.
The threat came hours after Tehran confirmed the existence of contacts with Muscat to negotiate a mechanism for controlling navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, which both countries share. The waterway was open before the U.S.-Israel war on Iran but has been largely closed since the conflict escalated.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies. Reports indicated that Iran and Oman had discussed arrangements for jointly overseeing passage through the waterway, which prompted Trump's response.
Trump's comments were made amid ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran aimed at reaching an agreement to end the war. The U.S. administration has sought to maintain control over access to the strait as part of its broader strategy in the region.
Oman, a longtime U.S. ally located on the Arabian Peninsula, has historically maintained a more neutral stance in regional disputes and has served as a diplomatic intermediary in past negotiations between the United States and Iran.
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