US President Donald Trump has reportedly threatened military action against Oman if the Gulf nation supports any arrangement involving shared control of the Strait of Hormuz with Iran, although uncertainty remains over whether he mistakenly referred to Oman instead of Iran.
Speaking to reporters following a cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump was asked whether he would support a temporary arrangement that would give Iran and Oman influence over the strategic waterway.
Responding to the question, Trump reportedly said the Strait of Hormuz would remain open to all nations.
“It’s international waters. Oman has to behave like everyone else, or we’re going to blow them up. They’ll understand that, they’ll have no problem,” Trump was quoted as saying.
However, questions quickly emerged over whether the US President intended to refer to Iran instead of Oman.
According to reports, the White House did not immediately respond to requests for clarification on whether Trump had misspoken.
Oman has long been considered a key ally of the United States and has frequently acted as a mediator in regional tensions and negotiations involving Iran and Western powers.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes, carrying a significant share of global oil and gas supplies, while tensions in the Middle East continue to create uncertainty over regional stability.
