Trump threatens to bomb Oman if it interferes in Strait of Hormuz
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to bomb Oman if it interferes with US naval operations or talks over the Strait of Hormuz, a warning he repeated in a Fox News interview and on social media. The threat coincided with the Aug. 17 expiration of a 60-day US-Iran ceasefire and Trump's demand that Iran 'raise the white flag' of surrender. A senior Iranian official separately told Reuters Tehran would launch a 'timely and precise' military strike if the United States fails to fully implement the temporary peace deal within several weeks.
Key Facts
- President Donald Trump threatened Monday to bomb Oman if it interferes with US naval operations or talks over the Strait of Hormuz.
- The 60-day ceasefire between the United States and Iran expired on Aug. 17.
- Trump said Iran must raise a white flag of surrender and that the main US goal is to ensure Iran never possesses nuclear weapons in any form.
- A senior Iranian official told Reuters Iran is ready to escalate in and beyond the Strait of Hormuz and will attack if the US does not implement the temporary peace deal within several weeks.
- Iran and Oman have been holding consultations on joint control of the Strait of Hormuz without Washington's involvement.
Trump's Oman Warning
Trump issued the threat on Monday in a phone interview with Fox News after being asked about Iran and Oman negotiating control of the Strait of Hormuz without Washington. Asked specifically about Oman's role, Trump said: 'If Oman gets in our way, we will bomb them half to death.' In a social media post, Trump wrote that there is still time for peace and for Iranian concessions to the main US demand. Later, asked about his earlier remarks that the United States could raze Oman, Trump said: 'I think they are not behaving very well, but we are dealing with them.' Trump gave no deadline for resolving the conflict and said he was in no hurry.
US-Iran Ceasefire Status
The 60-day ceasefire between the United States and Iran expired on Aug. 17. Trump confirmed the existence of an unofficial channel for peace talks with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He demanded that Iran raise the white flag of surrender and wrote on Truth Social that the main goal is and always will be to ensure Iran 'in no form' possesses nuclear weapons. The war between Washington and Tehran has lasted almost half a year, with intermittent clashes disrupting the delivery of oil and other vital goods through the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict has driven a sharp rise in oil and gas prices and is hurting Trump's Republican Party ahead of November midterm elections.
Iran's Response
A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday that Iran is ready to escalate tensions in and beyond the Strait of Hormuz if the United States fails to fully implement the temporary peace agreement within several weeks. If Washington misses that deadline and diplomacy fails, Tehran will launch a 'timely and precise' military attack to break the American naval blockade, the official added. Iran and Oman have been consulting on joint control of the Strait of Hormuz without Washington's involvement. Trump earlier promised to declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory.
4 sources
Trump threatens to bomb Oman if it interferes in Strait of Hormuz
