US President Donald Trump issued a rare threat against the Sultanate of Oman on Monday, August 17, 2026, stating that the country would face military strikes if it "obstructs" Washington’s actions concerning the Strait of Hormuz.

In a telephone interview with Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst, Trump said, "If Oman gets in our way, we’re going to bomb them very hard." While the Associated Press reported that Fox News has not released the audio of the conversation, Reuters also reported the same remarks, citing Trump’s interview with the network.

The threat comes as Iran and Oman have been negotiating in recent weeks to reach an agreement on resuming and managing the passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced on Monday that the two sides have reached an understanding on a "route map" and are finalizing details and a joint statement. According to previously released details, the plan under discussion could involve ships entering through a route near Iran and exiting through a route near Oman.

However, Washington has also made the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz one of its primary demands and disagrees with certain proposals regarding the management of the waterway. Consequently, Trump’s statement cannot be interpreted strictly as "bombing Oman for failing to cooperate on reopening the Strait"; his threat specifically addressed a scenario where Oman, in his words, "gets in the way" of the United States.

Trump’s remarks coincided with the expiration of a 60-day deadline set in a June 17 memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States to reach a broader agreement. This initial understanding was intended to lead to a cessation of military operations and negotiations on issues including Iran’s nuclear program, but it quickly collapsed following disputes over the control and flow of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump declared the deal "over" on July 7, and Iran described its implementation as "suspended" a week later.

This is not the first time Trump has threatened Oman with military action. The Associated Press reported that he said in May that Oman must "behave" like others or the United States might target it. In recent years, Oman has served as one of the most significant regional mediators between Tehran and Washington.

Prior to the start of the war on February 28, the Strait of Hormuz was the transit route for approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas. The restriction of traffic in this waterway in recent months has become one of the most significant factors of concern in the global energy market.