Middle East — 2026-08-18

Trump Threatens to Bomb Oman Over Strait of Hormuz Talks With Iran

BLUFOman hosts critical CENTCOM basing that underpins the Iran pressure campaign, making Trump's bombing threat operationally self-defeating with no force posture shift to suggest follow-through.

In a phone interview with Fox News on Monday, President Trump said "if Oman gets in the way" of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, "we'll bomb the shit out of them," remarks relayed on air by Fox correspondent Trey Yingst 1. Trump made the threat as Oman was negotiating with Iran over traffic through the strait, and Iran's Mehr News Agency reported Saturday that Tehran and Muscat had reached an agreement on a transit plan 1. The threat came as a 60-day US-Iran negotiation window set in June expired Monday without a deal, and marked the second time Trump has threatened military action against Oman over the strait, having made a similar threat to ABC News in May 2. Asked by reporters later Monday if he had lost patience with Oman, Trump said "I don't think they've behaved very well, but we'd handle them very easily, just like we do other things" 12. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., called the threat "deranged" and announced he will introduce a War Powers Resolution barring military action against Oman when the Senate returns from recess next month, while Rep. Ro Khanna said Democrats "may just need to file war powers resolutions for the 192 other countries" 23. Shipping traffic through the strait nearly stopped over the weekend, with only 13 vessels transiting, including three Sunday, and Trump separately confirmed a backchannel with Iran's IRGC while calling for Iran's "white flag of surrender" 14.

Analysis
Trump's threat exposes a policy contradiction rather than a genuine strike plan: Oman hosts basing and logistics critical to any US pressure campaign on Iran, making a bombing run self-defeating for Washington's own regional posture, and the rhetoric coincides with Muscat and Tehran finalizing a transit arrangement that serves the stated goal of reopening the strait rather than obstructing it. No shift in force posture or military-planning indicators toward Omani territory has surfaced, consistent with prior Trump threats against nominal partners that did not convert to action, though limited visibility into internal planning beyond the public rhetoric caps this at moderate confidence. NBC's original reporting anchors coverage others amplified without independent confirmation. The comment may function as leverage rhetoric hardening Oman's stance toward Iran rather than signaling intent against a treaty partner, and if Kaine's War Powers Resolution advances when the Senate returns, any future threat against Muscat would require a congressional vote rather than unilateral action.

5 sources

Trump threatens to bomb Oman if it 'gets in the way' of Strait of Hormuz talks with Iran - NBC News
Congressional Democrats plan Oman war powers push after Trump threatens bombing - Axios
Kaine Will Challenge Trump's Deranged Threat To "Bomb the Shit" Out of Oman - Office of Sen. Tim Kaine
Trump threatens to bomb Oman if it 'gets in the way' - The Washington Post
Trump confirms IRGC backchannel, but calls for Iran's 'white flag of surrender' - Fox News