Trump threatens to ‘blow up’ Oman despite centuries of US ties

“Trump threatens to ‘blow up’ Oman despite centuries of US ties Submitted by Sean Mathews on Wed, 05/27/2026 - 20:18 Officials tell MEE the Trump administration has borne a grudge against Oman for months, but the country is key to Iran's ambitions A man views Rasool al-Adham Mosque from the corniche at Port Sultan Qaboos in Oman's capital, Muscat, on 5 February 2026 (Loic Venance/AFP) Off US President Donald Trump threatened to attack Oman on Wednesday, in remarks that offered a window into what several US officials have told Middle East Eye is the administration’s frustration with Muscat amid the war on Iran. Trump said he would “blow up” Oman if it agreed to work with Iran to impose a fee for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz as part of a settlement to end the US-Israeli war on the Islamic Republic. “The strait is going to be open to everybody. Nobody is going to control it…it’s international waters,” Trump said. “Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we’ll have to blow them up,” he added. Iran has been pressing for its right to enact a toll in the Strait of Hormuz as an outcome of any deal to end the war. Oman’s position on the Strait of Hormuz is key because, along with Iran, it is the only country with territorial waters there. Why Oman is key to Iran's toll ambitions According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), countries can stake a claim up to 12 nautical miles for their territorial waters. The Strait of Hormuz is just 21 nautical miles wide at its narrowest point. Countries whose coasts border international straits are prohibited from restricting transit through their territorial waters or charging tolls. But legal experts tell MEE there are plenty of examples Iran could use, from “piloting fees” to “fees for service” in order to charge vessels if Oman cooperates. Iranian ambassador to France, Mohammad Amin-Nejad, told Bloomberg earlier this month that the two countries were working to implement a plan which would allow the war to end. The US is not a UNCLOS signatory. US anger at Oman's war comments Oman has long positioned itself as a regional mediator. It was the main interlocutor between the US and Iran before Israel attacked the Islamic Republic in June 2025 alongside the US. That attack happened despite the fact that negotiations were scheduled to take place between the US and Iran in Oman. 'Game on’: How Iran can exact a toll in the Strait of Hormuz Read More » Muscat attempted to mediate between the two sides a second time in the lead-up to the 28 February US-Israeli attack on Iran that began the war. Oman generally plays a quieter role than its Gulf neighbours Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. However, on the eve of the US-Israeli attack, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi made a desperate public plea on CBS News to ask for more time for negotiations. In March, Albusaidi penned an opinion article in The Economist that warned the US was risking its standing in the region by continuing the war alongside Israel. “America has lost control of its own foreign policy,” he wrote. In a social media post in March, Albusaidi contradicted the Trump administration’s justification for the war, which characterised Iran as an imminent threat to the US and its allies. "Whatever your view of Iran, this war is not of their making,” Albusaidi wrote. Multiple US officials have told MEE for months that the Trump administration is frustrated with Oman’s messaging on the war. MEE was the first to reveal that Saudi Arabia provided the US with expanded access, basing, and overflight rights at the height of the war. Reuters and other outlets later reported that Saudi Arabia and the UAE joined the US in conducting strikes on Iran. Ties back to 1790 The US does not have permanent bases in Oman, as it does in Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. However, the US Navy has an agreement that ensures regular access to Duqm Port on Oman's southern coast. Oman now appears to have taken a backseat in the negotiations. It lacks the deep pockets of Qatar and the military strength of Pakistan, two countries that have taken a public role in mediation. How Oman went from mediator to silent Saudi partner in Yemen fight Read More » For decades, Oman has maintained very good relations with the US and open diplomatic ties with Iran. Oman’s unique position goes back centuries. The Sultanate of Oman dates back centuries and once controlled an empire stretching from the Indian Ocean to the east coast of Africa. This contrasts with the relative youth of its neighbours, such as the UAE and Qatar, which were established as independent states in 1971. Oman has the oldest diplomatic and trade ties with the US, going back to 1790. Like other Gulf states, Oman has also courted the Trump family. The Trump Organisation, run by the president's children, has a franchise agreement for a luxury hotel and golf course under construction in Oman. War on Iran News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

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