'Or we'll have to blow them up': Donald Trump warns Oman not to interfere amid fragile US-Iran talks

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 routeSpeaking 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 USIran talksTrump rejects proposal on Strait of Hormuz controlAsked whether he would accept a shortterm deal allowing Iran and Oman to manage the strategically important waterway Trump responded firmlyldquoNo the straitrsquos going to be open to everybodyrdquo Trump told reportersldquoItrsquos international waters Nobodyrsquos going to control it Wersquore going to watch over it Wersquoll watch over it but nobodyrsquos going to control itrdquo he addedTrump further claimed the issue was part of the wider negotiations currently taking place between Washington and Tehran over regional security and maritime stabilityThe 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 regionldquoOman will behave just like everybody else or wersquoll have to blow rsquoem uprdquo Trump saidIranian media reports draft frameworkTrumprsquos remarks came after Iranian state television claimed it had obtained details of an unofficial draft agreement between Iran and the United StatesAccording to the report the proposed framework would restore commercial shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz to preconflict levels within a month The arrangement allegedly included joint IranianOmani management of maritime traffic in the regionThe report also claimed the United States would lift restrictions affecting Iranian ports and withdraw military forces stationed near Iran as part of the understandingHowever the White House quickly dismissed the report and described it as ldquoa complete fabricationrdquoThe conflicting claims highlighted the fragile nature of the ongoing diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran which has continued alongside heightened military tensions in the regionOman holds talks with Iranian officialsOman has played a diplomatic role in regional discussions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and broader security concerns in the GulfEarlier 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 GharibabadiAccording to a statement issued by Omanrsquos Foreign Ministry the talks focused on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and recent regional developmentsThe two sides reportedly discussed maintaining maritime security protecting trade routes and ensuring the smooth movement of global supply chains through the strategic waterwayThe statement added that discussions were held in line with international law governing navigation rightsStrait of Hormuz remains strategically criticalThe Strait of Hormuz remains one of the worldrsquos most sensitive maritime chokepoints with a significant portion of global oil exports passing through the narrow waterway each dayAny disruption in the region can impact international energy markets and global shipping operationsDuring 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 USIran negotiationsAccording to Omani authorities the message stressed both countriesrsquo commitment to restoring and maintaining safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in a sustainable mannerWith inputs from IANS