Gulf war widens? Trump threatens to bomb Oman if it ‘gets in the way’ of Iran deal
Gulf War Widens: Trump Threatens to Bomb Oman
Theindiapostdaily.com – The Gulf war widens as Trump threatens direct military strikes against the Sultanate of Oman, escalating tensions already stretched thin by a stalled Iran peace process. In parallel, Tehran and Muscat have moved closer to an interim framework governing commercial transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway whose disruption has rattled global energy markets since February.
Oman and Iran Draft Interim Hormuz Transit Rules
Tehran confirmed on Monday that its diplomats and their Omani counterparts have reached consensus on the specific corridor vessels would follow through the strait. Esmail Baghaei, spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, described the outcome as a shared understanding on the transit map, though he declined to disclose lane coordinates or operational details.
"An understanding has been reached regarding the map of the transit route." — Esmail Baghaei, Iranian Foreign Ministry
Earlier reporting indicated ships might enter the waterway along a lane hugging the Iranian coast and depart through a channel bordering Omani territorial waters. Under the provisional arrangement, transiting vessels would pay no tolls or transit fees. Baghaei acknowledged the talks were advancing slowly but stressed that Iran intended to finalize a complete package covering both the shipping corridor and an accompanying joint statement.
Trump's Fox News Warning to Muscat
In a telephone interview with Fox News aired Monday, 17 August, President Donald Trump told the Omani leadership that any attempt to obstruct Washington's naval blockade of Iranian vessels would be met with air strikes. He framed the blockade as leverage designed to extract concessions in the frozen peace negotiations.
"Oman gets in the way we'll bomb the s**t out of them." — Donald Trump, Fox News phone interview
Trump added that the maritime squeeze was already biting into Iran's economy and that he felt no pressure to resolve the standoff quickly, saying plainly he was "not in a hurry." The remark marked another sharp escalation in a conflict that has now run close to six months without a credible off-ramp.
Six Months of Stalemate and Disrupted Energy Flows
The US-Iran war ignited after joint Israeli-American strikes on Iranian targets on 28 February. Since then, sporadic skirmishes have continued, peace talks have ground to a halt, and the flow of oil and other critical commodities through the strait has remained disrupted. Before the hostilities began, roughly one-fifth of all globally traded oil transited this waterway. Iran effectively closed the channel in the aftermath of the February attacks, and Washington has since pressed for a commercial-shipping framework that would allow trade to resume before it lifts its own blockade of Iranian ports.
Nuclear Red Line and the Lapsed Negotiating Window
Trump also reaffirmed on Monday that preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon remains the singular American priority. In a Truth Social post he wrote:
"The number one Goal is, and always will be, that Iran cannot have, in any way, shape, or form, a Nuclear Weapon." — Donald Trump, Truth Social
The statement landed as the 60-day negotiating window between Washington and Tehran expired, with neither side signaling an intention to extend the period or bridge remaining gaps.
Kushner and Netanyahu on the Gaza Road Map
Amid the Iran developments, Jared Kushner — Trump's son-in-law and principal US negotiator for the Middle East — held closely intertwined talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the Gaza crisis. On Sunday, Kushner met Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya in Egypt to discuss the movement's disarmament; the following day he sat down with Netanyahu in Jerusalem.
The meetings followed Netanyahu's rejection of a 15-point, US-backed road map intended to advance a Gaza ceasefire. Hamas has publicly accepted the framework, which embeds disarmament provisions, and has urged mediators and the US-created Board of Peace to "compel" Israel to sign. Israel, by contrast, insists Hamas must fully disarm before any Israeli withdrawal. Under the proposed structure, Israeli forces would be obligated to pull back from roughly 60 percent of the Gaza territory they currently occupy — a concession Netanyahu has previously threatened to reverse by expanding the military operation further.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Strait of Hormuz matter to global markets?
Before the February strikes, approximately one-fifth of all globally traded oil passed through the strait. Its effective closure by Iran, compounded by Washington's blockade of Iranian ports, has disrupted energy flows and elevated shipping costs worldwide.
What is the interim Oman-Iran transit proposal?
The framework would designate a specific corridor through the strait — reportedly entering near the Iranian coast and exiting adjacent to Omani waters — under which transiting vessels would face no tolls or transit fees. Both sides have confirmed consensus on the route map, though operational details remain undisclosed.
What happened to the 60-day US-Iran negotiating window?
The window lapsed with no extension announced by either side. Peace negotiations have stalled, sporadic skirmishes continue, and the Gulf war widens as diplomatic options narrow.
What is the status of the Gaza road map?
Hamas has accepted the 15-point US-backed framework; Israel has rejected it. Kushner met both sides in consecutive days — al-Hayya in Egypt on Sunday, Netanyahu the next day — but no agreement has been reached. Israel demands full Hamas disarmament before withdrawal; the road map obligates Israeli forces to pull back from roughly 60 percent of occupied Gaza.