Washington: President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Oman on Monday, threatening military action if the Gulf nation obstructs US efforts to broker a peace deal with Iran.
According to Ghana News Agency, Trump made the aggressive statement during a phone interview with Fox News, declaring, "If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the shit out of them." Despite Oman not being a direct party in the conflict, the country has historically served as a diplomatic intermediary between Washington and Tehran. Currently, Oman is engaged in efforts to negotiate a shipping agreement with Iran for the Strait of Hormuz, which remains closed to traffic.
The framework agreement signed in June by Iran and the United States calls for Oman and Iran to jointly establish shipping arrangements through the strait, consulting with neighboring countries and adhering to international law. While Oman has reported progress in these talks, no formal agreement has been finalized. In May, Trump had already raised eyebrows by threatening Muscat, saying, "Oman will behave just like everyone else, or we'll have to blow them up," during a Cabinet meeting.
Oman has earned the moniker "Switzerland of the Middle East" due to its role as a neutral mediator in regional disputes, frequently acting as a bridge between the US and Iran. Despite the expiration of a 60-day deadline from the framework agreement for reaching a comprehensive peace deal, including terms on Iran's nuclear program, Trump expressed no urgency. "I'm not in a hurry," he reportedly told Fox News, suggesting that Iran should "put up the white flag of surrender" under growing pressure. "They're good poker players, but they're dying," Trump remarked.