President Donald Trump threatened on Monday to bomb Oman if the nation's leaders get in the way of a potential deal between the United States and Iran. The president stated that U.S. forces could strike the Gulf nation if it interfered in the blockade of Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz. This follows a previous threat to bomb the country in May.
The threat came in response to questions regarding ongoing negotiations between Iran and Oman over control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian and Omani officials have been talking for weeks about future maritime navigation arrangements and establishing a secure passage for commercial shipping, with the foreign ministry in Tehran stating that the two sides were working on a joint declaration. The Strait typically carries around a quarter of the world's seaborne oil trade, and fully reopening the waterway has been a key U.S. demand.
Meanwhile, President Trump stated that Iran would not make the deal he believes is needed to end the war with the U.S. and should surrender as talks between the two countries remain stalled. The president has struggled to draw the conflict to a conclusion nearly six months after it was launched.