US President Donald Trump issued a sharp threat against Oman on Wednesday after reports emerged suggesting Iran could oversee shipping movement through the Strait of Hormuz in cooperation with Muscat.
Trump warned that Oman “must behave properly” or “we will have to destroy them”, responding to a question about whether he would accept a short term arrangement allowing Tehran and Muscat to jointly manage the strategic waterway.
Speaking to reporters during a White House administration meeting, Trump said: “No, the strait will be open to everyone.” He added, “These are international waters, and Oman will behave properly like everyone else or we will have to destroy them. They understand that and they will be fine.”
The White House did not immediately respond to questions from journalists over whether Trump’s remarks were a verbal mistake or whether he had intended to refer to Iran instead of Oman.
However, the US State Department later published both video footage and a written transcript of Trump’s remarks concerning Oman without issuing any correction or clarification.
The comments triggered widespread anger across the Arab world, with writers and political figures describing the remarks as “the language of bullying”.
Preliminary Framework Draft
The controversy came after Iranian state television revealed details of what it described as an unofficial preliminary framework for a memorandum of understanding with the United States, reportedly mediated by Pakistan with the aim of ending the war.
According to the reported draft, Tehran would oversee shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with Oman.
Iranian state television also claimed that under the framework, Tehran would commit to restoring commercial shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to pre war levels within one month.
The broadcaster stated that the “preliminary Islamabad framework, which could mark a turning point in efforts to end the war imposed on Iran, is currently under review and undergoing final revisions”, while stressing that the proposal remains unfinished.
In contrast, the White House rejected the Iranian television report, calling it “false” and describing the alleged memorandum as “completely fabricated”.
