Middle East latest: Donald Trump threatens to bomb Gulf ally Oman if it gets in the way of Iran deal
The US President took aim at the US ally, who he accused of conducting negotiations with Iran without American approval.
Donald Trump has threatened to “bomb the s...” out of US ally Oman if the Gulf country continued to negotiate with the Iranian regime without American approval.
The US President made the wild threat on Fox News, in a clear reference to Oman’s work towards an agreement with Tehran on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The sticking point for the reopening of the waterway in which 20 per cent of the world’s oil passes, is the fact that particular plan is looking at join control.
When asked about the Iran-Oman talks by Fox News journalist Trey Yingst, Mr Trump bluntly replied: “If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the shit out of them.”
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Trump also urged Tehran to “put up the white flag of surrender”, according to a post on X by Yingst.
The Strait of Hormuz has been closed by Iran in the wake of February’s US and Israeli airstrikes and the way forward for its reopening remains a massive issue for peace talks between America and Iran.
The President’s tirade against Oman comes despite its lengthy history serving as a peacebroker between America and Tehran, including its help in forging the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.
The increasingly tenuous 60-day ceasefire between the US and Iran is also set to expire today, fuelling fears of further violence pushing an already volatile region further towards the brink.
At present there is no word of an extension and both sides seemingly as far apart as they were at the start.
Fox News did not provide audio of the interview with Trump.
This is not the first time that Trump has threatened Oman. In May, he told reporters during a Cabinet meeting that “Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we will have to blow them up.”
Trump also said the expiration of the 60-day deadline on talks to end the war was irrelevant and said there was no timeline, Yingst said. Trump said the US has a back channel for talks with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Yingst added.
Mr Trump’s threats follow Iran’s confirmation that it has reached an agreement with Oman over a plan for ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz, which runs between the countries, and the sides are now working to finalise details for a joint statement.
Iranian Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told reporters in Tehran that “an understanding has been reached regarding the map of the transit route.”
He did not elaborate, but details that have previously emerged suggest the deal would reopen the strait with ships entering through a route close to Iran and exiting through a route close to Oman. Ships would transit without paying fees or tolls during an interim period.
The US has sought an acceptable deal on opening the strait before ending its blockade of Iranian ports.
Mr Baghaei conceded the talks with Oman have gone slowly, “but we had planned, and still plan, to finalize the understanding in the form of a package: the map plus a joint statement.”
with AAP
