Date: August 17, 2026
Reporter: Emily Cather
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened military action against Oman if the Gulf nation interferes with Washington’s efforts to reach an agreement with Iran over the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Trump made the warning on Monday while speaking with Fox News journalist Trey Yingst, amid ongoing diplomatic discussions between Oman and Iran concerning maritime navigation through the waterway.
“If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the shit out of them,” Trump said, referring to negotiations involving Oman and Iran over the future operation and navigation of the Strait of Hormuz.
The remarks represent a sharp escalation in tensions involving Oman, which has traditionally maintained close relations with the United States and has played an important diplomatic role between Washington and Tehran.
Oman and Iran Discuss Strait of Hormuz
Iranian and Omani officials have reportedly been holding discussions over maritime arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s foreign ministry said Monday that the two countries were working toward a joint declaration concerning navigation through the strategic waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important maritime corridors, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea. Disruption to shipping through the strait has the potential to affect global energy markets and international trade.
The waterway has become a major point of contention during the continuing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Reuters reported that negotiations over the strait have become central to efforts to establish a longer-term agreement between Washington and Tehran.
Trump Challenges Iran's Position
Trump has repeatedly asserted that the United States should have control over the strategic waterway, while Iran has rejected Washington’s position.
The U.S. president recently suggested that he could go as far as declaring the Strait of Hormuz part of U.S. territory. Tehran rejected the claim and maintained that the waterway would remain under Iranian control.
The dispute comes as maritime traffic through the strait remains heavily disrupted amid the wider regional conflict.
Compensation Demands
Trump also intensified his demands against Iran on Monday, calling for Tehran to compensate Americans killed or seriously wounded in conflicts involving Iran and its allies.
In a statement on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Iranian representatives had raised the issue of compensation for damage suffered by Iran during the conflict and argued that Washington should make similar demands.
He referred to Americans killed in previous conflicts, including the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen, which killed 17 U.S. service members and injured dozens of others. The United States attributed the attack to al-Qaeda.
Growing Diplomatic Pressure
Trump's threat against Oman comes at a particularly sensitive moment as diplomatic efforts surrounding the Iran conflict face renewed pressure.
Reuters reported Monday that Iran had threatened a new offensive posture following stalled negotiations with the United States, while Washington rejected extending an existing ceasefire arrangement. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the central issues in the negotiations.
Trump's warning could further complicate Oman's role as a diplomatic intermediary. Muscat has historically been involved in facilitating communication between Iran and Western governments, making its participation potentially significant to any future negotiations.
The threat has also raised concerns about the possibility of a wider regional escalation if the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz intensifies.
For now, diplomatic discussions involving Oman and Iran continue, but Trump's latest warning has introduced another major complication into efforts to resolve the confrontation surrounding the strategically vital waterway.