Trump Warns Oman Not to Interfere in Strait of Hormuz Conflict: ‘We’ll Bomb the S–t Out of Them’
President Donald Trump issued a blunt warning to Oman on Monday, declaring that the United States is prepared to take military action if the Gulf nation interferes with America’s confrontation with Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.
“If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the s–t out of them,” Trump said during an interview with Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst. The warning comes as a tentative cease-fire between the United States and Iran reaches its expiration point.
Oman has become increasingly involved in diplomatic efforts surrounding the critical waterway. Iran announced last week that it was holding discussions with Oman about reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which has been at the center of repeated confrontations since the war began.
The strait is one of the world’s most important energy routes, historically carrying nearly one-fifth of global seaborne oil. Iran has used its ability to disrupt traffic through the waterway as economic leverage, contributing to volatility in energy markets and higher gasoline prices.
Trump’s warning makes clear that he does not intend to allow Oman or any other regional power to interfere with the American strategy for the strait. The president has increasingly argued that the United States should determine the waterway’s future after committing substantial military resources to defeating Iran and protecting international shipping.
The comments represent another escalation in Trump’s rhetoric toward Oman. The president previously warned Muscat against attempting to regulate traffic through the strait alongside Tehran, insisting that no outside government would be permitted to dictate how ships move through the international waterway.
Trump has also dramatically expanded his vision for the Strait of Hormuz in recent days. During a Republican rally on Long Island Friday, he announced that he intends to declare the strait a territory of the United States once the war against Iran is finished.
The administration maintains a substantial American naval presence in the region as it attempts to keep pressure on Tehran. Washington has combined military power with increasingly severe economic measures designed to restrict Iran’s ability to generate revenue and continue financing the conflict.
Meanwhile, efforts to secure a broader agreement between Washington and Tehran remain unresolved as the temporary cease-fire reaches its deadline. Iran has continued looking toward Oman as an intermediary, but Trump’s latest comments signal that there are strict limits on what role he is willing to tolerate from the neighboring Gulf state.
For Trump, the message is that American control of the situation is not negotiable. As the confrontation with Iran enters another critical stage, the president is warning Oman in unmistakable terms that any attempt to interfere with U.S. operations in the Strait of Hormuz could bring a direct American military response.