Trump threatens to bomb US ally Oman if it ‘gets in the way’ over Iran deal

President Donald Trump has publicly threatened to bomb the US ally Oman if it "gets in the way" of his administration's ongoing talks with Iran, according to Fox News. The United States and Oman have been separately negotiating with Tehran in an attempt to reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a waterway vital for global trade that has been largely closed for nearly six months due to the ongoing US-Iran conflict.

During a phone interview, Fox News reported that Trump used profanity while making the threat to Oman. Earlier in the day, Iranian officials reportedly stated that they were close to finalizing a deal with Oman. However, the future of the US-Iran negotiations remains uncertain as the 60-day Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two nations is set to expire.

In response to a question from BBC News about extending the MoU, Trump stated in an Oval Office press conference that "No." The ongoing conflict between the US and Iran began in February after a series of attacks, with Tehran largely blocking the Strait of Hormuz, which typically facilitates about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas trade.

Oman, which borders the southern side of the Strait, has maintained a neutral stance in the conflict but has faced numerous strikes from Iran and is now actively involved in negotiating with Tehran to reopen the waterway.

US officials have been actively pursuing their own efforts to secure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Fox News reporter Trey Yingst quoted Trump as saying: "If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the shit out of them."