President Donald Trump on Monday warned officials in Oman against interfering in U.S. interests through their ongoing negotiations with Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz. In a conversation reported by Fox News journalist Trey Yingst, Trump stated that the U.S. would take military action against Oman if the country "gets in the way." The journalist noted that audio of the conversation was not provided.
The warning comes as Omani and Iranian officials attempt to finalize a deal for new shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the International Energy Agency, the waterway is a critical global transit point, carrying 34 percent of the world's crude oil in 2025. Iranian Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated Monday that the two nations have reached an understanding on a transit route map.
Tensions remain high as a 60-day memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran reached its expiration date on Monday. Trump told Fox News he is "not in a hurry" to establish a permanent deal and stated he has "no time schedule." While Iran has demanded a withdrawal of the U.S. naval blockade and the unfreezing of assets, Trump has countered with demands for reparations for casualties caused by Iranian explosives and government actions over the last 50 years.
For residents and commercial entities in the Middle East, specifically in Oman and Iran, the threat of military engagement introduces significant security risks. The U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports already impacts trade and the movement of goods in the region. If the U.S. carries out the military threats mentioned by the president, it would mark a significant escalation in a region where the U.S. and Iran have already been trading strikes since early July.
The immediate focus remains on the expiration of the 60-day interim agreement on Monday. Without a new deal, the existing state of conflict and the U.S. naval blockade continue indefinitely. While Iranian and Omani officials have reached a preliminary understanding on transit maps, it is not yet known if Oman will proceed in defiance of the U.S. warning. Future steps depend on whether the Trump administration utilizes its reported backchannel to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to reach a new memorandum or permanent settlement.