Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
US President Donald Trump sparked confusion and alarm during a tense Cabinet meeting on Tuesday after appearing to threaten longtime American ally Oman while discussing control of the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway at the center of the escalating confrontation with Iran.
The remarks came after a reporter asked Trump whether he was comfortable with Oman helping mediate negotiations between Washington and Tehran over reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which has remained effectively closed since Iranian forces shut it down following US and Israeli airstrikes earlier this year.
“The strait will be open to everybody,” Trump said. “Nobody is going to control it. We will watch over it.”
Moments later, however, Trump abruptly turned his attention toward Oman itself, issuing an unexpected warning against the Gulf state despite decades of close military and diplomatic cooperation between Muscat and Washington.
“Oman will behave just like everybody else or we’ll have to blow them up. They understand that. They’ll be fine,” Trump said.
The statement immediately triggered confusion among analysts and diplomats, with no explanation offered by the White House regarding whether the president misspoke or intentionally threatened one of Washington’s most important regional partners.
Oman has historically played a central role as a quiet intermediary between the United States and Iran, including helping facilitate the negotiations that led to the 2015 nuclear agreement. The Gulf state has also maintained defense cooperation agreements with Washington since 1980 and hosts critical regional security coordination.
Despite the backlash, the Trump administration appeared unwilling to distance itself from the comments. The US State Department later circulated video footage of the exchange on social media, further fueling speculation over whether the warning reflected a broader hardening of Washington’s position in the Gulf.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically sensitive chokepoints, with roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments normally passing through the narrow corridor linking the Persian Gulf to international waters. The disruption has already sent shockwaves through energy markets and intensified fears of a wider regional conflict.
During the same Cabinet meeting, Trump repeatedly warned Iran that military action could resume if negotiations fail.
“Iran is very much intent, they want very much to make a deal,” Trump said. “So far, they haven’t gotten there. We’re not satisfied with it, but then we will be. We will be either that, or we’ll have to just finish the job.”
Trump then pointed toward Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth while suggesting the Pentagon was prepared to launch additional strikes against Iran if Tehran refuses to comply with US demands.
“If they do, that’s great, and if they won’t then the man on my left is going to finish them off,” Trump said as Hegseth smiled beside him.
The president also claimed Iran’s military capabilities had been devastated during the recent conflict.
“The Navy is gone,” Trump declared. “Their Air Force is gone, everything’s gone, and they’re negotiating on fumes.”
However, multiple intelligence assessments have reportedly concluded that Iran has already restored large portions of its missile infrastructure and retains significant offensive capabilities despite sustaining heavy damage during the war.
Washington is currently demanding that Tehran permanently abandon any nuclear weapons ambitions and surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Iranian officials, meanwhile, are pressing for an end to the US naval blockade that has severely restricted the country’s oil exports to China and other Asian markets.
Trump said senior envoys, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, remain engaged in ongoing negotiations, but insisted Iran has little leverage left as pressure on the regime continues to intensify.
