Trump Warns Oman Over Strait of Hormuz Negotiations

President Trump told Fox News on August 17, 2026: "If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the shit out of them." He was reacting to Iran-Oman talks that could give Tehran control of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world's seaborne oil passes. The strait has been all but closed since the US-Israel war on Iran began in February 2026. A US-Iran ceasefire was set to expire the same day. Oman has served as a key mediator between Washington and Tehran; threatening Muscat risks narrowing the remaining diplomatic channels for de-escalation.