Trump Threatens to Bomb Oman Over Iran Shipping Deal

US President Donald Trump has threatened military action against Oman, expressing displeasure over the Gulf state's negotiations with Iran to jointly manage ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Two regional officials, briefed on the US position, said the administration opposes key parts of the yet-to-be-announced deal, particularly the joint Iranian-Omani control of the strait's exit route, a critical chokepoint for global oil and gas supplies.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Washington believes Oman has been too lenient in its talks with Tehran. The US is also unhappy with Oman's agreement to collect voluntary fees from vessels, even if those charges are tied to security and environmental protection.

Trump made the threat on Monday, warning that he would bomb Oman as it works with Iran on a deal to reopen the strait and potentially pave the way for US-Iran negotiations. He reiterated his interest in declaring the strait a US territory, an idea he first floated last week. On Tuesday, he posted a map on social media depicting the waterway as American territory.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi responded sharply on X, writing that while Trump correctly used the name "Persian Gulf," his "delusion regarding the Strait of Hormuz will soon either be corrected, or we will correct this deluded man's delusions for him."

This is not the first time Trump has threatened Oman. In May, he told reporters that Oman "will behave just like everybody else, or we will have to blow them up."

Meanwhile, Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, reiterated that Tehran will not reopen the strait until Washington meets its conditions, including lifting the blockade, releasing frozen assets, ending oil sanctions, and halting military operations.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the Iranian-Omani deal could pave the way for a "comprehensive and permanent" agreement between Washington and Tehran, though it did not address Trump's latest threat.

Tensions in the region remain high. An unidentified projectile struck a ship early Tuesday off the Omani coast, damaging its engine room and causing a casualty, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations center. The Omani Coast Guard was assisting crew members, and authorities were investigating.

In a separate incident, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed they launched drone attacks on a Saudi Aramco oil refinery, raising fears of a renewed escalation in the region.