Trump Threatens Oman as Iran Ceasefire Deadline Expires

US President Donald Trump renewed his threat to bomb Oman on Monday if the Gulf nation interferes with American efforts to secure a deal with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, marking the second time he has singled out the longtime strategic partner for potential attack. The warning came as a 60-day memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran expired without progress, leaving the critical waterway effectively closed and global oil markets rattled.

Speaking to Fox News, Trump said Iran should surrender and claimed his administration had established a backchannel with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He then turned his attention to Oman, stating that if the country “gets in the way, we’ll bomb the shit out of them.” An IRGC spokesman quickly rejected the notion of any direct contact, calling Trump’s assertion a fantasy. Oman has not publicly responded to the remarks.

The comments arrive against the backdrop of a six-month conflict that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. Iran has maintained control over the northern approaches to the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of seaborne oil trade normally passes. Oman, whose territorial waters form the southern boundary, has sought to position itself as a neutral mediator, engaging Tehran on possible new transit arrangements. Iranian officials said Monday they were close to a joint declaration with Muscat on a commercial route, though any agreement would require US acquiescence to lift the blockade Trump has described as a “wall of steel.”

The collapse of earlier Pakistan-mediated talks has left both sides deadlocked over who controls passage through the strait and how to address Iran’s nuclear program. With fuel prices climbing and midterm elections approaching, the prolonged standoff has added political pressure on the administration. Brent crude rose above $90 a barrel following the deadline’s expiration, and analysts noted that any further narrowing of diplomatic options could sustain higher prices.

A separate incident early Tuesday underscored the risks to shipping. An unidentified projectile struck a vessel exiting the strait, damaging its engine room and injuring a crew member, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations center. No group claimed responsibility, but the attack followed Iranian warnings that the route would remain restricted until Washington meets Tehran’s conditions. Iranian officials have signaled they may adopt a more aggressive posture if talks remain stalled.

Oman’s role has drawn repeated attention because of its history as a reliable US partner that has avoided direct confrontation with Washington. The country has hosted American military assets and facilitated past diplomatic contacts between the US and Iran, yet it has also faced strikes from Iranian forces targeting perceived US-linked infrastructure. Trump’s willingness to threaten force against such an ally has raised questions inside and outside the administration about the consistency of US policy in the region.

The episode follows weeks of shifting claims about negotiations. Trump has insisted the United States exercises total control over the strait, while Iranian statements reject that assessment and emphasize the need for any reopening to preserve Tehran’s authority over its territorial waters. With no direct channel confirmed and the latest deadline now passed, the immediate path to de-escalation appears narrow, leaving commercial traffic and regional stability exposed to further disruption.