President Donald Trump has threatened military action against Oman due to objections over a prospective agreement between Oman and Iran concerning management of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, two regional officials reported on Tuesday. The Trump administration has communicated its opposition to specific elements of the proposed arrangement, particularly the joint Iranian and Omani oversight of the strait’s exit, which serves as a critical passage for global energy supplies.
The administration views Oman’s negotiating approach as insufficient and has expressed displeasure with Oman’s willingness to collect voluntary fees from vessels, even when designated for security and environmental protection purposes. Trump made the threat public on Monday and subsequently posted a map on social media depicting the strait as U.S. territory, following earlier comments in which he suggested the same idea. The White House acknowledged Trump’s Oval Office remarks but declined further elaboration.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister responded to Trump’s territorial claim through social media, stating the assertion would either be corrected or addressed directly. Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf reiterated that the strait will remain closed until the United States fulfills several conditions, including lifting sanctions, releasing frozen assets, and ending military operations. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry indicated that the Iranian-Omani arrangement could facilitate renewed U.S.-Iran negotiations.
Simultaneously, security incidents escalated in the region. A projectile struck a vessel in the strait, and a cargo ship off Yemen suffered multiple impacts rendering it a total loss. The UAE Defense Ministry reported that two ballistic missiles were launched from Iran, though both fell into the sea without reported damage. Houthi rebels also claimed responsibility for drone strikes on a Saudi Aramco oil refinery, marking an escalation in their campaign against commercial shipping and regional targets.
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