The United States has issued a fresh warning to Oman following President Donald Trump's threat to 'blow up' the longstanding ally over control of the Strait of Hormuz. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent explicitly cautioned Oman against participating in any tolling system for the strategic waterway.
Bessent's Stern Warning
In a statement released on Thursday, Bessent declared, 'The United States Government will not tolerate any effort to impose a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz. Oman, in particular, should know that the U.S. Treasury will aggressively target any actors involved - directly or indirectly - in facilitating tolls for the Strait and any willing partners will be penalized.' He added, 'All nations should reject outright any efforts by Iran to disrupt the free flow of commerce. Tehran’s days of terrorizing the region and the world are over.'
Trump's Threat and Iranian Response
Bessent's warning came a day after Trump threatened to 'blow up' Oman if it did not comply with US demands regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state television reported that it had obtained a draft agreement to restore commercial shipping, with Iran and Oman jointly managing traffic. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei condemned Trump's threat as 'another dangerous sign of the normalisation of lawlessness and bullying in international relations.'
Military Escalation
Tensions have escalated further as the US struck an Iranian drone operation near the Strait of Hormuz. In retaliation, Iran's Revolutionary Guard attacked a regional US air base and warned of a 'more decisive' response to further aggression. Despite these hostilities, unnamed US officials informed Axios that American and Iranian negotiators have reached a 60-day memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire and initiate talks on the central nuclear issue, pending Trump's approval.
