Trump Threatens to Attack Oman, Here Is the Background

United States President Donald Trump has threatened to attack Oman if the country disrupts US-Iran negotiations, while saying Washington has established direct contacts with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

“If Oman gets in the way, we will bomb them until they are finished,” Trump told Fox News on Monday (17/8), when asked about Oman’s role in negotiations concerning Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.

The Iranian government said on Saturday that it had reached an agreement on shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz following technical negotiations with Oman over several weeks.

Trump then said Tehran should raise a “white flag of surrender”. He said Iran is “a good poker player, but they are dying”.

He also claimed that direct contacts have already been established between Washington and the IRGC. “We have a back channel with the IRGC. We speak directly with IRGC officials in Iran,” he said.

Meanwhile, regarding the situation in Gaza, Trump said Israel must stop attacking Gaza because “Hamas has agreed to lay down their weapons”. He also said the US has a separate communication channel with Hamas. “We have a different channel with Hamas, and in the end they will hand over their weapons,” he said.

The statement was made amid Washington’s efforts to ensure the implementation of the Gaza peace plan, which includes the disarmament of Hamas and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian territory.

Trump also expressed his views on Israeli politics, saying the “most appropriate” step at present is not to interfere in the country’s elections. However, he still left open the possibility of supporting a particular candidate. “I think the most appropriate thing for me is to stay out of Israeli election politics, but I may support a particular candidate,” the US President said.