U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a controversial warning that he would ‘blow up’ Oman if the country entered a deal with Iran to manage shipping in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The statement, made during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, has drawn swift criticism from Iran, which called the remark ‘dangerous’ and ‘bullying,’ according to The Guardian.

Tensions Escalate Over Hormuz

Trump’s comments come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict between the U.S. and Iran, which began in February. The Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s oil flows, has become a central point of contention. Trump emphasized that the strait is an international waterway and must remain open to all. He warned that if Oman did not adhere to this principle, ‘we will have to blow them up,’ as reported by El Confidencial.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei condemned Trump’s remarks, stating that such threats violated the fundamental principle of non-use of force in international relations and signaled a ‘normalization of lawlessness and bullying,’ according to The Guardian. Iran has reportedly been in talks with Oman to jointly manage the strait, a move that the U.S. has strongly opposed.

U.S. Military Actions and Regional Response

Recent military actions in the region have heightened tensions. According to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, U.S. forces attacked targets in southern Iran in the early hours of Thursday, destroying five attack drones launched from the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. Central Command (Centcom) stated that the action was defensive and aimed at maintaining a ceasefire. The Iranian state news agency Fars reported that the attack triggered the activation of Iran’s air defenses and that an American air base was targeted in retaliation.

Iran’s state television claimed that the U.S. base was attacked after it was used as a launch site for the earlier drone strikes. The location of the U.S. base was not disclosed. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of State did not immediately respond to a query about whether Trump had mistakenly referred to Iran instead of Oman in his comments, as noted by WELT.

Trump’s Unyielding Stance

Trump’s comments reflect a broader strategy of imposing strict conditions on Iran during negotiations. He has insisted that highly enriched uranium must not be sent to Russia or China and has warned that any agreement must be acceptable to the U.S. or face ‘termination,’ according to 한겨레. Trump also dismissed the idea of a temporary agreement involving Iran and Oman, saying, ‘Oman will behave like all others, or we will have to blow them up.’

The U.S. administration has rejected reports from Iranian state media suggesting that a draft agreement was under discussion, calling it ‘a complete fabrication.’ Despite the lack of progress, Trump has expressed confidence that a deal will eventually be reached, though he has left the door open for military action if negotiations fail.