Cost of school supplies skyrockets amid Trump's tariffs and Iran war

Donald Trump has again vowed to bomb Oman if it hinders his attempts to bring an end to the US-Israel conflict with Iran. The US president made the threat on Monday, reiterating a previous statement he made the same day on Fox News. Oman, a longstanding US strategic ally, has traditionally acted as a key intermediary between Washington and Tehran.

The US leader delivered the threat as the conflict, which began almost six months ago, continues to drag on without a resolution. While Trump has repeatedly asserted that the war would conclude "soon," a two-week window for a negotiated settlement, agreed with Iran, has now passed without any breakthrough. In an interview with Fox News, Trump stated that he is "not in a hurry" to reach a deal and suggested that Iran should "put up the white flag of surrender."

He also dismissed concerns about the US military supplies being depleted, claiming that the costs of the war are "peanuts" and that many of the US's more advanced weapons have already been provided to Ukraine. The comments followed Trump's assertion that the ultimate goal is to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global trade and a critical route for approximately one-fifth of the world's seaborne oil, has been nearly closed since the war began in February.

Oman, situated to the south of the strait, has been involved in negotiations over control of the waterway. Trump has previously threatened to "blow up" Oman if it does not behave. The two countries have been in discussions regarding the strait, and Oman has also come under attack from Iran. The foreign ministry of Iran stated on Monday that talks with Oman are "continuing in earnest," despite Trump's recent comments.

Trump also confirmed for the first time that Washington has established a direct backchannel to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which the US and Israel have targeted throughout the conflict.