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

President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb the US ally Oman if it "gets in the way" of his administration's negotiations with Iran, according to Fox News. The United States and Oman have been separately engaging in discussions with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global trade that has been largely blocked for nearly six months due to the US-Iran conflict.

Iranian officials reportedly stated they were nearing a deal with Oman to reopen the Strait. However, the prospects of talks between the US and Iran remain uncertain as the 60-day Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two nations is set to expire. Following the US and Israeli attacks on Iran in February, Tehran has largely closed the Strait, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas usually passes.

Oman, a neutral country in the conflict, has suffered several strikes from Iran and is now actively involved in negotiations with Tehran for its reopening. Fox reporter Trey Yingst quoted Trump as saying, "If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the shit out of them." The US has also pursued its own efforts to secure the reopening of the Strait.

An IRGC spokesman denied Trump's claim of direct contact with the organization, calling it a "fantasy" resulting from Trump's defeat and desperation in the war. The future of the US-Iran negotiations is unclear, as the MoU, which aimed to bring about a ceasefire and partial Strait reopening, fell apart shortly after its signing in June.

Trump has since described Iran's leadership as "scum" and "cuckoo" following further exchanges of fire.