- See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source
Donald Trump threatened to ‘bomb the s***’ out of Oman if it continues negotiations with Iran without American approval as the ceasefire with Tehran nears its expiration.
Oman, a major US defense ally in the Middle East, is currently negotiating with Iran over a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by placing the narrow waterway, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil passes, under joint control.
Trump has previously stated that Iran will not be allowed to control the waterway by charging levies or taxes from US-backed oil tankers.
The President issued a dire warning on Monday morning during a Fox News interview if Oman moves forward with its negotiations: 'If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the s*** out of them.'
The Strait of Hormuz has been shut since Iran closed it after US and Israeli airstrikes in late February. The strait's reopening remains a key sticking point in peace talks.
Oman has a history of serving as a friendly mediator between the White House and the Iranian regime.
The country helped broker the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal and has acted as a US defense partner in the Middle East since 1980.
Trump's threats against his own ally come as the 60-day US-Iran ceasefire is set to expire today, raising fears of renewed fighting that could further destabilize the region and disrupt global oil supplies.
Oman, a major US defense ally in the Middle East, is currently negotiating with Iran over a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by placing the narrow waterway under joint control
Trump's threats against his own ally come as the 60-day US-Iran ceasefire is set to expire today, raising fears of renewed fighting that could further destabilize the region and disrupt global oil supplies
An oil tanker burns after being hit by an Iranian strike in the ship-to-ship transfer zone at Khor al-Zubair port near Basra, Iraq, late Wednesday, March 11
Trump has previously stated that Iran will not be allowed to control the waterway by charging levies or taxes from US-backed oil tankers
Trump's Monday morning warning to attack Oman is not the first time the president has threatened the US Middle Eastern ally.
Back in May during a cabinet meeting, a reporter asked Trump whether he was comfortable with Oman jointly controlling the strait with Tehran.
'The strait will be open to everybody,' Trump said before being asked who would control it. 'Nobody is going to control it... We will watch over it.'
Trump then turned his attention back to Oman, threatening to attack the country.
'Oman will behave just like everybody else or we'll have to blow them up. They understand that. They'll be fine,' Trump added.
Oman did not publicly respond to Trump’s threat at the time. However, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the following day that Oman’s ambassador had assured him Muscat had no plans to charge vessels for passing through the strait.