Ceasefire Expires as Hormuz Talks Stall and POW Dispute Flares

President Trump stated Monday that the United States would bomb Oman if the Gulf state interferes in efforts to secure open transit through the Strait of Hormuz. The remark came as a 60-day ceasefire between Washington and Tehran reached its end with no formal extension or agreement in place.

Trump made the comments during an interview with Fox News, noting that informal contacts continue with elements of Iran's Revolutionary Guard but that the United States faces no deadline. He stressed the core objective remains preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons in any form. Shipping data showed traffic through the strait had already slowed sharply over the weekend, with only five cargo vessels recorded on Saturday and none on Sunday.

Iran announced it had reached an understanding with Oman on a transit route map for the waterway that separates the two countries. Iranian Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the sides are now finalizing details for a joint statement. Earlier reports indicated the arrangement would allow ships to pass without fees during an interim period, with inbound traffic routed closer to Iran and outbound traffic closer to Oman. The United States has demanded full reopening of the strait before lifting its blockade of Iranian ports, and it remains unclear whether the proposed plan satisfies that condition.

The strait carries roughly one-fifth of global seaborne oil supplies. Its effective closure since the start of the current conflict has already contributed to higher energy costs ahead of the November midterms. Trump has said he intends to declare the waterway U.S. territory once fighting ends.

Separately, Iran accused Qatar of holding three Iranian pilots in violation of the Geneva Conventions. The pilots were part of a four-man crew in two Su-24 aircraft shot down over Qatari airspace in March during strikes on Al Udeid Air Base. Iran says one pilot died and the remaining three have been denied contact with families or Iranian officials for six months. Maj. Gen. Ali Abdullahi, Iran's new armed forces chief of staff, demanded their immediate release. A Qatari search was announced after the incident, though Doha has not confirmed holding the men. Brig. Gen. Mohammad Bagherzadeh raised the matter with the International Red Cross, citing articles that guarantee prisoners of war the right to communicate and receive visits.

The combination of stalled direct talks, Oman's separate channel with Tehran, and the Qatar prisoner dispute has left the broader regional picture more fragmented. Trump has shown little interest in rushing an accord that falls short on nuclear restrictions or secure shipping lanes. With gas prices already under pressure and no clear path to de-escalation, the administration appears prepared to maintain leverage through the blockade while keeping military options open against any party that blocks progress on the strait.