Trump Gives a No to Iran Oman Deal on Charging Free
for Hormuz Transit
President Trump said there would be serious
repercussions if Iran and Oman move forward with a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz.
·
Speaking during a cabinet meeting on 27 May 2026,
Trump threatened military action, stating Oman must “behave just like everybody
else” or face U.S. bombing.
·
Trump later indicated he did not expect military
action would be necessary, expressing confidence that Oman would comply.
·
Iran has reportedly discussed a partnership with
Oman to establish a system charging fees for ships passing through the Strait
of Hormuz.
·
The Trump administration opposes any payment-based
transit arrangement for the strategically vital waterway.
·
Trump asserted that the Strait of Hormuz must
remain open to all countries and said no single nation would be allowed to
control it.
·
Oman’s foreign ministry had not issued an official
response immediately after Trump’s remarks.
·
The latest tensions follow the U.S.-Israel military
strikes on Iran on 28 February 2026, which triggered a broader regional
conflict.
·
In retaliation, Iran temporarily closed the Strait
of Hormuz, disrupting global trade and causing volatility in financial and
energy markets.
·
Prospects for a quick diplomatic resolution remain
weak as both Washington and Tehran have intensified hostile rhetoric and
actions in recent days.
·
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most
critical maritime chokepoints, handling a major share of global oil and gas
shipments.
[ABS News Service/28.05.2026]
President
Trump on Wednesday (27.05.2026) warned the Gulf state of Oman, a U.S. ally, not
to enter into any agreement with Iran to share control of the Strait of Hormuz or
else face an American bombing campaign.
Quickly
after making the threat, Mr. Trump said he didn’t believe the United States would
have to take such an action.
“Oman
will behave just like everybody else, or we’ll have to blow them up,” he said during
a cabinet meeting, responding to a reporter’s question about the strait. “They understand
that. They’ll be fine.”
Iran
has discussed partnering with Oman in a system charging fees for vessels passing
through the Strait of Hormuz, ignoring the Trump administration’s warnings against
demands for payment to pass through the critical international waterway.
Mr.
Trump said there would be serious repercussions if the two countries agree to such
a deal.
“The
strait is going to be open to everybody,” he said. “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.”
Oman’s
foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The
United States and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, starting a monthslong war that
spread to neighboring countries. In response, Iran closed
the strait, a key passageway for global commerce, rocking the financial markets.
Despite
talks about a potential deal to quickly reopen the strait, the likelihood of a swift
diplomatic breakthrough seemed dim Wednesday after the United States and Iran ratcheted
up hostilities this week.