Trump Threatens Oman if it Interferes with Iran Deal

US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Oman if it gets in the way of Iran negotiations, using an expletive, as the 60-day ceasefire deadline passed.

Oman, an American ally, has been trying to mediate negotiations between the US and Iran. This is not the first time Trump has threatened Oman. Trump confirmed to FOX News on Monday, August 17, 2026, that there is a backchannel with Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officials. He added that Iran should raise the white flag of surrender and that he has no time schedule.

Trump's remarks come amid escalating tensions over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran and Oman are negotiating a deal to reopen the waterway. Last week, Trump stated he would pretty soon declare the strait US territory. The US president's threat to attack a partner that was trying to broker peace was described as stunning. Analysts warn the fallout could be catastrophic, with David Graham of The Atlantic arguing Trump's about-face against a US ally was understandable but no less shocking.

Throughout Trump’s two terms, many analysts have sought to discern a guiding doctrine to his foreign policy, but the incoherence of his actions in the past week alone provides further evidence against such a doctrine. Trump has a lavish golf course and real estate development deal in Oman, on the edge of the Gulf of Oman, just a few dozen miles from the Strait of Hormuz.

The lucrative terms of the deal were granted with the blessing of the Omani government and crown. This business engagement raises questions about how Trump navigates his priorities as commander-in-chief and international developer. Trump's aggressive, crude attitude towards an ally is seen as confusing, especially given his personal financial interests in Oman. The irrefutable fact that he has a large money-making opportunity in the same location where he proposes to bomb raises several questions. It remains unclear if this business engagement will deter Trump from bombing the oldest independent state in the Arab world.