US President Donald Trump sharply escalated tensions in West Asia after warning Oman that the United States would "blow them up" if the Gulf nation attempted to control the Strait of Hormuz alongside Iran.
Speaking during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday, Trump rejected reports claiming Iran and Oman were discussing a framework to jointly control shipping through the strategic waterway as part of a possible agreement to end the ongoing conflict.
"Nobody's going to control it," Trump said. "It's international waters and Oman will behave just like everybody else or we'll have to blow them up."
The remarks came amid rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global shipping route through which nearly 20 per cent of the world's oil supply passes. Reports suggested Iran and Oman were considering a mechanism involving tolls or joint oversight of shipping activity in the region, though the White House later dismissed claims about a draft framework as "a complete fabrication."
Trump's comments sparked international attention, particularly because Oman is considered a key US ally in the Gulf region and has historically acted as a mediator between Washington and Tehran. Despite speculation that Trump may have mistakenly referred to Oman instead of Iran, the US State Department later shared the statement on social media, confirming the reference to Oman.
The warning came as the US military launched fresh overnight strikes on Iranian military targets near Bandar Abbas, claiming the sites posed threats to American forces and commercial vessels operating near the Strait of Hormuz. US officials also confirmed that Iranian drones were intercepted during the operation. Washington described the strikes as "defensive" while maintaining that the fragile ceasefire with Iran technically remains intact.
Meanwhile, Iranian media reported multiple explosions near Bandar Abbas early Thursday morning, prompting the activation of air defence systems in the area.
Trump also indicated that negotiations with Tehran remain stalled, accusing Iran of attempting to delay any agreement until after the US midterm elections. He warned that the United States remained prepared to resume large-scale military action if talks failed.
"We're not satisfied with it, but we will be. Either that or we'll have to just finish the job," Trump said during the Cabinet meeting.
The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as the centre of the escalating US-Iran standoff in recent months, with repeated military threats, naval operations, and disruptions to global shipping raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
