Trump threatens to bomb Oman if it obstructs US-Iran negotiations
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
President Donald Trump threatens to bomb Oman, a US ally, if it obstructs US-Iran negotiations, Fox News reported. Hours earlier, Iran said it had reached an understanding with Oman on a transit route through the Strait of Hormuz. An IRGC spokesman denied Trump's claim of a direct US backchannel with the Revolutionary Guard.
Key Facts
- Trump told Fox News that Oman would be bombed if it “gets in the way” of US talks with Iran.
- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said an understanding was reached on the transit route map through the Strait of Hormuz.
- The 60-day memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran is expiring.
- Trump said the US has a direct backchannel with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; an IRGC spokesman denied the claim.
- Kaktus Media linked the threat to any Omani interference with a US blockade of Iranian ships.
The Threat to Oman
Fox reporter Trey Yingst quoted Trump as saying: “If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the shit out of them.” Trump made the threat during a phone interview with Fox News. Oman says it is neutral in the conflict but has suffered a number of strikes from Iran and is now negotiating with Tehran to reopen the waterway. The sultanate borders the southern side of the strait, which carries about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas. Kaktus Media reported the threat concerned any Omani interference with the US blockade of Iranian ships.
Strait Transit Negotiations
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said talks with Oman had produced an understanding on the map of the transit route through the Strait of Hormuz. Both sides would finalise details before issuing a joint statement, spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said. The 60-day memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran is expiring. Reuters, citing an Iranian official, reported Tehran sought fees of between 5% and 7% of the price of cargoes from vessels through the strait.
US-Iran Backchannel
Trump said the US had a direct backchannel with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a major military, economic and political force in Iran. An IRGC spokesman told Tasnim News there were no talks between IRGC officials and the Americans, calling Trump’s claim a lie born of ‘defeat and desperation in the war.’ The US and Israel attacked Iran in February, prompting Tehran to largely close the strait. Trump said he had no time schedule for ending the war and described Iranian leaders as ‘good poker players, but they’re dying.’
3 sources
Trump threatens to bomb Oman if it obstructs US-Iran negotiations
