Trump Threatens to 'Blow Up' Oman as Iran Expresses Solidarity

US President Donald Trump warned he would blow up Oman if it collaborated with Iran to gain control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded to Trump’s remarks by expressing solidarity with Oman. During a cabinet meeting on Wednesday (27 May), Trump made the threat when answering a reporter’s question. The reporter had asked Trump’s view on the proposal for Oman and Iran to oversee trade in the Strait of Hormuz. ‘Would you accept a short-term agreement allowing Iran and Oman to control the strait?’ the reporter asked. Trump responded with what appeared to be a reckless threat. He warned that no one would control the Strait of Hormuz, and threatened Oman. ‘There will be no control over it. It is international waters, and if Oman behaves like other countries, we will have to blow them up,’ Trump said. There were speculations that Trump may have misspoken, saying ‘Oman’ instead of ‘Iran’. However, the US State Department shared the comment on social media with a transcript referencing the Arab country. It is known that Oman, known for its neutrality, has not stated any intention to join Iran in controlling the Strait of Hormuz. The US and Oman are close allies with a relationship spanning over 200 years. The two countries have several cooperation agreements, including security partnerships, free trade agreements, and science and technology accords. Trump Faces Criticism Oman has previously acted as a key mediator between the US and Iran during efforts to resolve the war that began on 28 February. Critics condemned Trump’s threat against Oman as reckless. Raed Jarrar, Director of Advocacy at US-based human rights group DAWN, compared Trump’s comments to those of a mafia boss. ‘The UN Charter prohibits threats of violence against any country, and this ban binds the United States just as it does everyone else,’ Jarrar told Al Jazeera. ‘Threatening to blow up an Arab country because its waters happen to lie along a oil route Washington wants to reopen is the same lawless logic that led to this war in February, and it is the clearest signal that any ceasefire mediated by this administration will only last until the president loses his patience again in a cabinet meeting,’ he added. Trump’s threat came after Iranian state television reported a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two countries. The draft reportedly grants Iran and Oman joint control over managing the strait. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei also condemned Trump’s remarks about attacking Oman. Baghaei also denounced recent US attacks on Iran’s Bandar Abbas region.