Key Points
- Trump told Fox News U.S. forces could strike Oman if it interferes in the Hormuz blockade.
- Oman has been hosting Iranian negotiators on a provisional shipping arrangement for the strait.
- The threat targets the main mediator channel in a war now nearing six months.
The latest:
U.S. forces could strike Oman if it interferes in the naval blockade of Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz, President Donald Trump said in a phone interview with Fox News on Monday, according to correspondent Trey Yingst. Trump said the blockade was pressuring Tehran and gave no timeline for ending a war now in its sixth month, saying he was in no hurry.
Details:
- The threat: Yingst reported Trump saying that if Oman gets in the way of U.S. efforts to reach a peace deal with Iran, American forces would bomb the country. Trump did not specify what Omani action would trigger a strike, and no target, timeline or scale was described.
- Why Oman: Iranian negotiators have held talks with Omani officials in recent weeks over a provisional arrangement to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, placing Muscat at the center of the only active channel between Washington and Tehran. No date was announced for a further round.
- The war: The conflict has run nearly six months since February, pushing oil and gas prices higher ahead of November’s midterm elections. U.S.-Iran peace talks have stalled, and intermittent clashes continue to disrupt oil and commodity flows through the strait.
- Nuclear framing: In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump said his number one goal remained ensuring Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon in any way, shape or form. He did not tie that objective to the blockade or to the threat against Oman.
- Economic track: Trump vowed on Friday to hit Iran hard economically, a day after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington would impose measures on Tehran that have “never been seen” as soon as next week, Reuters reported. The specific measures were not identified.
- Sanctions scale: Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has sanctioned more than 1,000 people, vessels and aircraft since Trump’s second term began, according to OFAC data. Recent rounds hit Iran’s shadow oil fleet, shipping insurers and digital exchanges, freezing an estimated $500 billion in Iran-linked cryptocurrency.
- China exposure: China buys more than 80% of Iran’s shipped oil, according to 2025 data from analytics firm Kpler, much of it absorbed by independent refiners known as teapots that hold about a quarter of Chinese refining capacity. Experts say those refiners have limited exposure to the U.S. financial system.
- Bank option: Treasury has warned two larger Chinese banks they could face secondary sanctions if Iranian funds moved through their systems but has not designated them, Reuters reported. U.S. officials have not publicly identified the two banks.
- Land blockade idea: Some U.S. and Israeli officials have floated a land blockade requiring help from Iraq, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Armenia. Experts assessed it would be hard to execute and might not generate internal Iranian pressure, while the Afghan border is mountainous and difficult to patrol.
- Red Sea front: Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis said they struck what they described as a Saudi military ship and four escort vessels with missiles in the Red Sea off Mocha, according to spokesperson Yahya Saree on Telegram on Monday. Riyadh’s response was not announced.
- Also: Washington is preparing new economic measures Bessent said would be unprecedented.
Background:
Washington, the United Nations and the European Union have sanctioned Iran since the late 1970s over its nuclear program, human rights record and support for militant groups. Since the war began in February, the U.S. has added maritime, energy and financial measures and launched the naval blockade.
Between the lines:
The threat lands on the one government hosting Iranian shipping talks, which suggests Washington views a provisional Hormuz arrangement as relief for Tehran rather than a step toward a deal. Analysts quoted by Reuters argue sanctions rounds have not changed Iranian behavior because Tehran replaces designated entities, which helps explain why pressure is shifting toward physical chokepoints and third countries.
What’s next
Bessent said new measures could land within a week. Also watch whether Oman continues hosting Iranian negotiators, whether the House takes up the Senate-passed sanctions and tariff bill, and Saudi Arabia’s response to the Houthi claim.
