A proposed shipping arrangement between Oman and Iran could restore movement through one of the world’s most consequential waterways. But Trump’s remarks suggest any deal will face pressure far beyond the two countries at the strait.
Donald Trump threatened to bomb Oman if it “gets in the way” as Oman and Iran are working on a shipping arrangement through the Strait of Hormuz. The proposed deal could reopen a waterway that Iran effectively closed after Israel and the United States attacked the country on Feb. 28, but Trump has indicated that Washington may reject terms set by Tehran and Muscat.
The clash puts Oman in an unusually exposed position. It is negotiating a route with Iran for commercial vessels while facing a U.S. demand for an acceptable agreement on the strait’s reopening—a dispute with implications for a corridor that carried roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil supplies before the conflict.
Why Oman became the focus
Trump’s warning was aimed at Oman rather than Iran, a distinction that matters because Oman appears to be trying to arrange practical transit with its neighbor. Iran says it is close to finalizing an agreement with Oman that would allow ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the countries had reached an understanding on the transit route and were working toward a joint statement. Yet the available account leaves critical questions unanswered, including whether the arrangement would satisfy U.S. expectations.
That uncertainty is the heart of the dispute. Oman’s apparent objective is to restore maritime traffic; Trump’s comments suggest the United States could regard an Iran-Oman plan as insufficient if it does not meet conditions Washington considers necessary.
The proposed route remains incomplete
Previously reported outlines described ships entering the Strait of Hormuz along a route nearer Iran and leaving along a route nearer Oman. Vessels would not pay fees or tolls during an interim period, according to the Associated Press.
Those details point to a narrow operational arrangement, not necessarily a broader political settlement. No full terms have been made public, and it remains unclear what security guarantees, oversight or other conditions could be attached to any eventual transit plan.
A joint statement from Iran and Oman would be an important next marker because it could clarify how ships would move and whether the two governments view their understanding as a temporary fix or a more durable framework.
A waterway with outsized leverage
The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran and Oman, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Its commercial importance has turned control of passage into a major point of leverage in the broader conflict.
Iran effectively closed the strait after the Feb. 28 attacks by Israel and the United States, according to the AP. The shutdown put the route at the center of both the conflict and efforts to bring it to an end.
For Washington, reopening the waterway is tied to more than moving commercial vessels. The AP reported that the United States has sought an acceptable reopening agreement before ending its blockade of Iranian ports. That approach gives the U.S. a major role in deciding not only whether shipping resumes, but under what political and security terms.
Supporters of a quick transit agreement could argue that reopening the route would ease immediate risks for civilian shipping, regional countries and energy markets. Critics could argue that a limited arrangement giving Iran significant influence over the passage could reward the closure of an international waterway or leave vessels without sufficient protection.
What Trump said—and what is unknown
Trump made the latest threat in comments to Fox News reporter Trey Yingst, saying the United States would bomb Oman if it “gets in the way,” using an expletive for emphasis. The AP reported that Fox did not release audio of the interview.
Without the audio, the precise context is not public. The available reporting does not identify which actions by Oman Trump would consider obstruction, and it does not describe a specific military order, target list or timetable connected to his statement.
The remark also followed an earlier warning. During a Cabinet meeting in May, Trump said Oman would “behave just like everybody else, or we will have to blow them up,” according to the AP.
The gap between the rhetoric and the known details matters. A public threat can pressure negotiators without establishing that a military action has been ordered or is imminent. Still, it may complicate Oman’s effort to negotiate with Iran while avoiding direct confrontation with the United States.
Peace diplomacy is still unresolved
The shipping discussions are unfolding as a 60-day period for reaching a peace agreement between the United States and Iran was expiring. The AP reported no announced extension and said the two sides appeared as far apart as they had been at the beginning.
Trump reportedly played down the deadline’s importance and said there was no timeline. Yingst also said Trump described a back channel for talks with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, though no details of that channel were made public.
That mix of threats, economic pressure and reported private contacts means a shipping agreement could advance even while the larger conflict remains unsettled. A route for commercial vessels might reduce some immediate pressure without resolving disputes over security, military action or a lasting political settlement.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged Iran and the United States to return to peace negotiations. Through a spokesperson, he said there is no military solution to the conflict and called on both sides to lower their rhetoric.
The next test is a public deal
The immediate question is whether Iran and Oman issue their anticipated joint statement and provide workable details for shipping through the strait. Any plan will be judged against Iran’s interests, U.S. demands and Oman’s ability to maintain its role without becoming a direct target of pressure.
It remains unclear whether Trump’s threat will force a faster agreement, change Oman’s negotiating posture or make a deal harder to achieve. What is already evident is that the Strait of Hormuz is serving as both a commercial route and a bargaining tool in a wider confrontation.
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