Trump Threatens Oman as Iran Advances Strait of Hormuz Transit Deal

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened Oman as Iran and the Gulf state move toward an agreement aimed at managing maritime traffic through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, amid stalled U.S.-Iran negotiations and continuing tensions across the Middle East.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tehran and Muscat had reached an understanding on the route that ships would use to transit the Strait of Hormuz and were working to finalize details for a joint statement. The proposed arrangement would allow vessels to pass through the waterway under an interim mechanism without fees or tolls.

The Strait of Hormuz has become a central issue in the conflict between Iran and the United States. Before the war, roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil supplies passed through the strategic waterway. Iran effectively closed the strait following U.S. and Israeli attacks on the country in February, while Washington has demanded its reopening as a condition for ending its blockade of Iranian ports.

Trump warned that the United States could take military action against Oman if Muscat interfered with Washington’s objectives. His remarks came as the 60-day period established under an interim U.S.-Iran agreement expired without a broader peace settlement. The two sides remain divided over the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. blockade and wider issues related to ending the conflict.

The United Nations has urged Washington and Tehran to resume negotiations, with Secretary-General António Guterres stressing that there is no military solution to the conflict and calling on both sides to lower tensions and rhetoric.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts are continuing on other regional fronts. U.S. negotiator Jared Kushner met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Washington sought progress on a proposed Gaza ceasefire framework. Hamas has expressed support for the U.S.-backed roadmap, while Israel has rejected key elements, insisting that Hamas fully disarm before Israeli forces withdraw from parts of Gaza.

Regional tensions also remained elevated. Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed attacks against vessels in the Red Sea, while drone attacks targeted offices and residences of senior Kurdish officials in northern Iraq. No casualties were reported in the Iraqi attacks, which officials described as a serious escalation.

The developments underscore the widening diplomatic and security challenges surrounding the Iran conflict, with the Strait of Hormuz emerging as a critical flashpoint for regional stability, international navigation and global energy supplies.