28 May,2026 09:11 AM IST | Washington | mid-day online correspondent
US President Donald Trump. Pic/AFP
US President Donald Trump has issued a sharp warning to Oman amid ongoing negotiations involving Iran and the strategic Strait of Hormuz, saying the United States would not allow any country to control the key maritime route.
Speaking during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday (local time), Trump rejected the possibility of a temporary arrangement under which Iran and Oman would jointly oversee shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz as part of a broader agreement linked to US-Iran talks.
Asked whether he would accept a short-term deal allowing Iran and Oman to manage the strategically important waterway, Trump responded firmly.
"No, the strait's going to be open to everybody," Trump told reporters.
"It's international waters. Nobody's going to control it. We're going to watch over it. We'll watch over it, but nobody's going to control it," he added.
Trump further claimed the issue was part of the wider negotiations currently taking place between Washington and Tehran over regional security and maritime stability.
The US President then delivered a direct warning aimed at Oman, stating that the Gulf nation should not interfere in a way that challenges US interests in the region.
"Oman will behave just like everybody else or we'll have to blow 'em up," Trump said.
Trump's remarks came after Iranian state television claimed it had obtained details of an unofficial draft agreement between Iran and the United States.
According to the report, the proposed framework would restore commercial shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz to pre-conflict levels within a month. The arrangement allegedly included joint Iranian-Omani management of maritime traffic in the region.
The report also claimed the United States would lift restrictions affecting Iranian ports and withdraw military forces stationed near Iran as part of the understanding.
However, the White House quickly dismissed the report and described it as "a complete fabrication."
The conflicting claims highlighted the fragile nature of the ongoing diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran, which has continued alongside heightened military tensions in the region.
Oman has played a diplomatic role in regional discussions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and broader security concerns in the Gulf.
Earlier this month, Omani officials led by Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi held discussions with an Iranian delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi.
According to a statement issued by Oman's Foreign Ministry, the talks focused on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and recent regional developments.
The two sides reportedly discussed maintaining maritime security, protecting trade routes, and ensuring the smooth movement of global supply chains through the strategic waterway.
The statement added that discussions were held in line with international law governing navigation rights.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most sensitive maritime chokepoints, with a significant portion of global oil exports passing through the narrow waterway each day.
Any disruption in the region can impact international energy markets and global shipping operations.
During the recent meeting in Muscat, Omani Foreign Minister Al Busaidi also received a verbal message from Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi regarding the ongoing US-Iran negotiations.
According to Omani authorities, the message stressed both countries' commitment to restoring and maintaining safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in a sustainable manner.
(With inputs from IANS)
