Trump takes aim at longtime ally Oman as Strait of Hormuz remains gridlocked

In a significant development, US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he would not seek to extend the memorandum of understanding with Iran, citing Iran's unwillingness to agree to a deal that met his standards. The agreement, brokered by Pakistan, aimed to end the conflict and reopen commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global energy corridor.

However, talks broke down as both parties accused each other of breaking the deal. Trump reiterated that preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon remained an absolute non-negotiable condition for any agreement. He also floated the idea of potentially declaring the strait a US territory, claiming this would give the US full control over the waterway.

Trump had previously threatened to bomb Oman if it interfered with US efforts to address Iran and the strait. Despite this, officials from Iran and Oman are currently working on a mechanism for future maritime navigation through the Strait. Trump's comments came as the 60-day negotiation window expired without any extension. He also criticized South Korea for not providing operational support against Iran, despite the US having a significant military presence there.