President Donald Trump (R-FL) threatened to bomb Oman on Monday if the country interferes with the U.S. position regarding the Strait of Hormuz [1, 2].
The threat escalates tension in a critical maritime corridor where the U.S. and Iran are attempting to finalize a strategic agreement. Any military action in the region could disrupt global oil shipments and destabilize Gulf diplomacy.
The warning came on Aug. 17, 2026 [3], the day after a 60-day memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran expired [4]. The memorandum had served as a cease-fire agreement while both nations worked toward a long-term deal on the strategic waterway [4].
Trump said the U.S. would take military action if Oman blocks the American stance on the Strait of Hormuz [2]. "I’ll bomb the s*** out of them if they get in the way," Trump said [1].
Oman has historically acted as a diplomatic bridge between Washington and Tehran. However, reports indicate this is not the first time the president has used such language toward the Sultanate. WION News reported that Trump has threatened to "blow the s*** out of Oman" twice in four months [4].
The U.S. position centers on maintaining strategic control, and ensuring the free flow of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said the U.S. will not allow any third party to obstruct these objectives [2].
While the U.S. and Iran continue to negotiate, the expiration of the 60-day window [4] removes the immediate diplomatic buffer that had prevented open conflict. The administration has not specified the exact actions Oman took to trigger the warning, only that the nation must not get in the way of the U.S. position [1, 3].
“"I’ll bomb the s*** out of them if they get in the way."”
The expiration of the 60-day cease-fire memorandum creates a volatile diplomatic vacuum in the Persian Gulf. By targeting Oman—a traditional neutral mediator—with military threats, the U.S. administration is signaling a shift from quiet diplomacy to coercive pressure to ensure total compliance with its strategic goals in the Strait of Hormuz.
