US President Donald Trump has warned Oman against attempting to influence control over the Strait of Hormuz as delicate negotiations with Iran continue, insisting that the United States would "watch over" the strategically crucial waterway.
Speaking to reporters during a cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday local time, Trump rejected the idea of any temporary arrangement that would allow Iran and Oman to jointly manage the strait.
"No, the strait's going to be open to everybody," Trump said when asked whether he would support such a deal.
Calling it an international passage, the US President stressed that no country would be allowed to dominate it.
“It's international waters. Nobody's going to control it. We're going to watch over it. We'll watch over it, but nobody's going to control it,” he said. “That's part of the negotiation that we have.”
Trump in a sharp warning directed at Muscat, said: “Oman will behave just like everybody else or we'll have to blow 'em up.”
His remarks followed a report by Iranian state television claiming that Tehran had obtained an unofficial draft of a possible agreement between Iran and the United States. According to the report, the proposed framework would restore commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz to pre-conflict levels within a month, with Iran and Oman jointly overseeing maritime traffic.
The reported framework also claimed that the United States would lift its blockade on Iranian ports and pull back military forces from areas close to Iran.
However, the US side dismissed the report, describing it as “a complete fabrication.”
Meanwhile, Oman has continued diplomatic engagement with Iranian officials regarding maritime security and navigation concerns linked to the Strait of Hormuz.
On May 24, Omani officials led by Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi held discussions with an Iranian delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi. The talks focused on freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and wider regional developments.
According to a statement issued by Oman’s Foreign Ministry, both sides discussed principles governing freedom of navigation in the strategic passage in line with international law.
The statement added that the two countries exchanged views on recent regional developments and explored ways to strengthen maritime security, trade movement and supply chain stability.
During the meeting, Al Busaidi also received a verbal message from Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi concerning the ongoing talks between Tehran and Washington.
The message reportedly reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to restoring safe and sustainable freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
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