US President Donald Trump has threatened to 'blow up' Oman if it fails to 'behave' amid discussions over the Strait of Hormuz. The remark came during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, as the US seeks to reopen the crucial waterway that has been blockaded by Iran since late February.
Trump's threat followed reports that Iran and Oman were discussing a joint toll system for ships passing through the strait, which typically carries about a fifth of the world's oil supplies. 'Oman will behave just like everybody else. Or else we'll have to blow them up. They understand that. They'll be fine,' Trump said.
The US president emphasised that the strait is part of international waters and must remain open to all. 'Nobody's going to control it. We're going to watch over it,' he declared. The White House did not clarify whether Trump had misspoken, and Oman's embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.
Oman, a Gulf nation of 5.3 million people, has long been a US ally with military and economic ties, and has played a mediating role in the US-Israel war on Iran. Tehran has sought Oman's support for a toll mechanism, according to the Associated Press.
Trump's efforts to strike a peace deal with Iran have so far failed, and he accused Iran of trying to stall until the US midterm elections in November. Republican hawks, including Senator Roger Wicker, criticised a rumoured 60-day ceasefire, calling it a 'disaster' that would undo gains from Operation Epic Fury.
