Trump threatens to bomb Oman if it gets in way of Iran deal

On August 17, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Oman if the neutral Gulf nation interferes with U.S. efforts to reach a deal with Iran. The threat came during a Fox News interview on the day a 60-day U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding expired without a peace breakthrough. While Oman and Iran are finalizing a deal to reopen the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, Trump claimed the waterway is under U.S. control. Meanwhile, a senior Iranian official warned that Tehran is shifting to a "fully offensive" policy to break the U.S. naval blockade.

Trump threat to bomb Oman

• ▪U.S. President Donald Trump delivered his threat against Oman during a phone interview with Fox News journalist Trey Yingst on August 17, 2026.
• ▪U.S. President Donald Trump previously threatened to blow up Oman during a cabinet meeting in May 2026 if the country failed to behave.
• ▪U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Oman if the country gets in the way of a U.S. deal with Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

Strait of Hormuz blockade

• ▪The Strait of Hormuz has been largely closed since the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran on February 28, 2026.
• ▪U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on August 14, 2026, that he would declare the Strait of Hormuz a territory of the United States.
• ▪Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated on August 17, 2026, that Iran and Oman had reached an understanding regarding a transit route map to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

US-Iran peace talks stalled

• ▪The 60-day Memorandum of Understanding signed by the United States and Iran on June 17, 2026, officially expired on August 17, 2026, without a peace agreement.
• ▪An Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesman denied Donald Trump's claim of a direct backchannel, calling it a lie and a fantasy.
• ▪U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on August 17, 2026, that his administration has a direct backchannel to officials of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
• ▪U.S. President Donald Trump stated on August 17, 2026, that he is in no hurry to reach a peace deal with Iran despite the upcoming November midterm elections.

Oman mediator role

• ▪Oman borders the southern side of the Strait of Hormuz, maintains neutrality in the conflict, and has suffered military strikes from Iran.
• ▪Oman has historically served as a key strategic partner and diplomatic mediator between the United States and Iran.

Iran offensive policy shift

• ▪A senior Iranian official warned that Iran will conduct a military attack to break the U.S. naval blockade if diplomacy fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
• ▪A senior Iranian official stated on August 17, 2026, that Iran has shifted its policy from defensive to fully offensive due to the deadlock in peace efforts.

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