Trump Threatens to 'Blow Up' Oman Over Hormuz Strait Control, US Treasury Warns of Sanctions
On May 27, 2026, US President Donald Trump threatened to 'blow up' Oman if it failed to 'behave' over the Strait of Hormuz. The US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, warned Oman of sanctions if it facilitated tolls for the strait. Oman reportedly has no plans to impose tolls on the waterway.
Where Sources Diverge
Some sources report that Trump made the threat during a cabinet meeting, while others note it was a casual aside.
casual aside during a cabinet meeting
during a cabinet meeting at the White House
The exact wording of the threat varies slightly across sources, with some using 'blow them up' and others using 'aggressively target'.
we will have to blow them up
aggressively target
Timelines
Sources
Bessent says Oman has ‘no plans’ to impose Hormuz tolls Middle East Eye
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent issues sanctions warning to Oman over Strait of Hormuz toll, says 'any willing partners will be penalised' WION
US Treasury secretary says Oman has 'no plans' to toll Strait of Hormuz Anadolu Ajansı
US Treasury chief threatens to sanction Oman if it joins Strait of Hormuz tolls The Straits Times
US official says Oman should know that Washington 'will aggressively target' actors that facilitate tolls in waterway.
US warns Oman not to engage in facilitating tolls for Strait of Hormuz Reuters
US threatens to ‘aggressively’ target Oman if it facilities tolls for Hormuz Middle East Eye
US threatens to ‘aggressively’ target Oman if it facilitates tolls for Hormuz Middle East Eye
The US president has issued a stark warning to a US ally, in a sign of rising tensions over Strait of Hormuz.
President makes comments after reports Iran and Oman have discussed jointly charging a toll for ships. Plus, how ‘balcony solar’ could help fight rising energy costs Good morning. In a casual aside during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Donald Trump threatened to “blow up” Oman, a US ally, if it failed to “behave” over the reopening the strait of Hormuz. What is the latest on a deal to end the war? Negotiations are continuing but the US earlier this week struck Iranian targets, reportedly killing four members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which prompted an apparent Iranian retaliatory attack on an American airbase in Kuwait. What is happening inside Iran? Internet restrictions were partially lifted this week, revealing increasing anger from Iranians over rapid food price inflation. What is the humanitarian toll of the war? More than 1 million people in Lebanon have been displaced in the latest round of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, which began in March. At least 3,213 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since the start of the war, according to the Lebanese health ministry. The office of Israel’s prime minister reported that 23 Israeli soldiers and a defence contractor have been killed in or near southern Lebanon, and two civilians have been killed in northern Israel. What is life like inside Israel’s “yellow line”? The Guardian’s William Christou, in Kfarchouba, Lebanon, spoke to the villagers living in fear of nightly raids and daytime bombings from the Israeli military occupying their land. Continue reading...
Iran vows to defend sovereignty after US attack on Bandar Abbas, condemns Trump's threat to Oman WION
The U.S. President said Oman must "behave" or he would "blow them up," when he was asked if he would accept a short-term deal to allow Iran and the Gulf state to control the Strait of Hormuz
Trump threatens to 'blow up' Oman if it joins Iran in imposing fees on Hormuz Strait Middle East Eye
Speaking to reporters during a cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday local time, Trump rejected the idea of any temporary arrangement that would allow Iran and Oman to jointly manage the strait. "No, the strait's going to be open to everybody," Trump said when asked whether he would support such a deal. Calling it an international passage, the US President stressed that no country would be allowed to dominate it.
Trump Says US Could ‘Blow Up’ Oman Over Hormuz Control Proposal The Daily Star Lebanon
President Trump said there would be serious repercussions if Iran and Oman move forward with a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump appears to threaten to ‘blow up’ ally Oman The Straits Times
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday appeared to threaten to attack ally Oman if it sides with Iran over reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said Oman must “behave” or he would “blow them up”, when he was asked if he would accept a short-term deal to allow Iran and the Gulf state to control the waterway. “No, the strait is going to be open to everybody,” Trump told reporters during a cabinet meeting at the White House. “It’s international waters and Oman will behave just like everybody else...
US-Iran war: Trump threatens to 'blow up' Oman over Strait of Hormuz negotiations WION
Trump appears to threaten to 'blow up' ally Oman France 24
US president calls on US ally to ‘behave … or else we’ll have to blow them up’ in casual aside during cabinet meeting Donald Trump has threatened to “blow up” Oman if it fails to “behave” in a casual aside during a cabinet meeting, as the US scrambles to reopen the strait of Hormuz. The US president made the threat after reports of talks between Iran and Oman about jointly charging a toll for ships passing through the crucial waterway, which has been all but closed since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran. Continue reading...
The US president warns that Oman, a US ally, 'will behave just like everybody else, or we will have to blow them up'.
Trump threatens to ‘blow up’ Oman despite centuries of US ties Middle East Eye
Trump says Oman will 'behave,' or will be attacked by US Anadolu Ajansı
Donald Trump threatens to attack Oman if they interfere in Hormuz The Jerusalem Post