President Donald Trump warned Oman and Iran on May 28, 2026 [1], that the U.S. would use force to keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
The warning comes as the U.S. seeks to prevent any single nation from seizing control of the waterway, which is a critical artery for global energy shipments. Any disruption to navigation or the imposition of tolls could trigger significant economic instability.
Speaking during a White House Cabinet meeting in Washington, D.C., Trump said the United States will watch over Hormuz [2]. He directed the warning toward Oman and Iran to deter them from interfering with maritime navigation, or attempting to seize the waterway [2].
Trump used blunt language to describe the potential U.S. response to such interference. "Behave or we'll blow 'em up," Trump said [3].
Iranian officials have pushed back against the assertion of U.S. oversight. Esmaeil Baghaei said the Strait of Hormuz issues will be handled by Iran and Oman, without outside intervention [2].
The conflict in rhetoric highlights a fundamental disagreement over regional sovereignty and international maritime law. While the U.S. maintains that the waterway must remain an open international passage, Iran and Oman have signaled a preference for bilateral management of the strait [2].
“"Behave or we'll blow 'em up."”
This escalation signals a return to a high-pressure deterrence strategy regarding the Strait of Hormuz. By explicitly threatening military force and rejecting the Iranian Foreign Ministry's claim that the region can be managed without 'outside intervention,' the U.S. administration is asserting that American naval presence is the primary guarantor of global energy security in the Persian Gulf.
