U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Monday to bomb Oman if it “gets in the way” of a deal with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that moves roughly 34 % of the world’s crude oil, raising the risk of immediate supply disruption.
Trump made the remark to Fox News reporter Trey Yingst while noting that Oman and Iran have been negotiating new shipping lanes through the waterway. The 60‑day memorandum of understanding signed on June 17, which set a deadline for a broader agreement, expires Monday. Iran’s foreign ministry says the deadline is irrelevant after U.S. violations, and Trump has also said he will soon declare Hormuz U.S. territory.
The threat adds a new flashpoint to an already volatile region and could keep crude‑oil prices elevated as traders price in the possibility of a sudden closure of the strait. Shipping insurers and charterers are likely to reassess risk premiums, while governments monitor the escalation for broader energy‑security implications.
Iran maintains that the 60‑day clause of the June memorandum is void because the United States breached the pact early, whereas the United States continues to treat the deadline as binding and rejects Tehran’s claim to control the strait.