On May 27, during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump stated, "Oman must act like other countries. Otherwise, we may have to blow them away." He added, "They understand that point. It will be fine."
Earlier, Mohammad Aminnejad, Iran's ambassador to France, revealed in an interview with Bloomberg that Iran and Oman were discussing the establishment of a permanent toll system for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Politico reported that Trump rejected this proposal and threatened that Oman, a U.S. ally, could face severe consequences.
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a key issue in negotiations aimed at ending the conflict between the U.S. and Iran. The strait, located between Iran and Oman, could be completely blocked if the two nations reach an agreement. Therefore, Oman’s discussions with Iran regarding tolls could be seen as a thorn in the side of the U.S., which is currently pursuing the reopening of the strait through peace negotiations with Iran.
Trump reiterated his stance that the Strait of Hormuz should not be under the control of any nation. He stated, "The strait must be open to everyone. It is international waters. No one will control it. We will monitor it, but no one can control it."
Oman has played a crucial mediating role in the Iran nuclear negotiations and U.S.-Iran backchannel communications. While maintaining a friendly relationship with the U.S., Oman has not participated in Trump’s Abraham Accords.
CNN noted that Trump’s remarks add Oman to the list of countries he has threatened or mentioned as potential targets during his presidency. Since taking office, Trump has conducted military actions in Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen, and has also mentioned the possibility of attacks on Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Greenland, Mexico, Panama, and Oman.
However, CNN pointed out that not all of these threats and actions are of the same nature, with some being limited attacks aimed at specific terrorist groups. Analysts suggest that Trump employs a so-called "madman theory" in his foreign policy, using unpredictable rhetoric to pressure adversaries.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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