US President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued a sharp warning to Oman while speaking about the ongoing and fragile negotiations between Washington and Tehran, saying the strategic Strait of Hormuz would remain open to all nations and under international access.
Speaking during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump said the United States would continue to “watch over” the key maritime route, which has emerged as a central point in the ongoing US-Iran discussions amid heightened regional tensions.
The remarks came after Iranian state television claimed that an unofficial draft agreement between Iran and the United States proposed restoring commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to pre-conflict levels within a month. According to the report, Iran and Oman would jointly manage traffic movement through the waterway, while the US would lift restrictions on Iranian ports and pull back forces from areas near Iran.
However, the American side has rejected the report, calling it “a complete fabrication”.
Asked by reporters whether he would agree to any temporary arrangement allowing Iran and Oman to control the Strait, Trump firmly ruled it out.
“No, the strait’s going to be open to everybody,” he said.
“It’s international waters. Nobody’s going to control it. We’re going to watch over it. We’ll watch over it, but nobody’s going to control it. That’s part of the negotiation that we have.”
Trump then escalated his rhetoric further with a direct warning aimed at Oman.
“Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we’ll have to blow ’em up,” he said.
Why the Strait of Hormuz remains critical for global trade
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most sensitive shipping chokepoints, handling a major share of global oil and energy transportation. Any disruption in the passage immediately raises concerns over global supply chains, crude prices and maritime security in West Asia.
Oman has, meanwhile, remained engaged diplomatically with Tehran over navigation concerns linked to the strategic corridor.
Earlier this week, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi held discussions with an Iranian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi. The talks focused on maritime navigation, regional developments and security around the Strait of Hormuz.
According to a statement issued by Oman’s Foreign Ministry, both sides discussed principles related to freedom of navigation in accordance with international law. The discussions also covered measures aimed at protecting trade routes, maritime movement and regional supply chains.
During the meeting, Al Busaidi also received a verbal message from Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi concerning the ongoing indirect talks between Tehran and Washington.
The message reportedly underlined the commitment of both countries towards ensuring that navigation through the Strait of Hormuz remains safe and sustainable.