Trump threatens Oman over Strait of Hormuz talks, raising US‑Iran

President Donald Trump warned the Gulf state of Oman that it must “behave” or face US retaliation if it joins Iran in controlling the Strait of Hormuz, a comment made during a White House cabinet meeting on May 29 2026 [1]. The remarks, which echoed earlier remarks about Iran, came as US‑Iran negotiations over a cease‑fire extension and nuclear talks stalled.

Key takeaways

• Trump said Oman will “behave just like everybody else, or we will have to blow them up” if it partners with Iran on the strait [2].
• Oman and Iran have been discussing a fee system for vessels transiting the Strait, but Omani officials say no tolls are planned [3].
• The United States and Iran are negotiating a 60‑day cease‑fire extension and a memorandum of understanding on Iran’s nuclear program, but no deal has been signed yet [3].
• Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the president’s comment was meant to underline freedom of navigation and noted a call with the Omani ambassador after the threat [3].
• Oman has long served as a US ally and mediator with Iran, hosting back‑channel talks that helped shape the 2015 nuclear deal [2].

Trump’s warning and the Oman‑Iran fee talks

During a cabinet meeting, Trump dismissed the idea of any country controlling the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as “international waters” that the United States would “watch over” [2]. He then turned his remarks to Oman, saying the Gulf state must “behave” or face being “blown up,” a statement that the White House did not immediately clarify or correct [1]. The comment followed reports that Muscat and Tehran were discussing a joint fee system for ships passing through the strait, a proposal that Bloomberg first reported on May 21 2026. The New York Times later clarified that the talks involved fees for services rather than a toll for passage [2].

Omani officials were not immediately available for comment, but Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Omani representative told him that Oman has no plans to impose tolls in the Strait of Hormuz [3]. Bessent framed Trump’s warning as a “punctuation” of the United States’ commitment to freedom of navigation, rather than an indication of imminent military action [3].

Stalled US‑Iran negotiations and regional implications

The threat to Oman arrived as US‑Iran talks over a cease‑fire extension and a possible nuclear memorandum of understanding remained unresolved. Vice President JD Vance described the negotiations as “still TBD,” noting progress but no final agreement for President Trump to sign [3]. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that discussions were ongoing, with “teams going back and forth” on language points, and that a deal would depend on what the president decides [3].

Oman’s role as a long‑standing US ally includes defense cooperation that grants American forces access to Omani ports and air bases, as well as a free‑trade agreement with the United States [2]. Historically, Oman has acted as a mediator between Washington and Tehran, facilitating secret talks that contributed to the 2015 nuclear deal and hosting indirect negotiations in early 2026 that ultimately did not succeed [2].