US President Donald Trump has threatened to use military force against Oman if it collaborates with Iran to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway handling over 20% of global oil traffic. The remark came during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

When asked by a reporter about the idea of Oman and Iran jointly overseeing the strait, Trump replied: 'Nobody is going to control it. It’s international waters, and Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we will have to blow them up.'

Initial speculation that Trump may have misspoken and meant 'Iran' was dismissed after the US State Department shared the quote on social media, confirming the target was the Arab country.

Oman, known for its neutrality, has not indicated any desire to join Iran in controlling Hormuz. The US and Oman are close allies with a relationship spanning over 200 years, including security, trade, and technology agreements.

Oman previously served as a key mediator between Washington and Tehran following the February 28 US-Israeli attack on Iran.

Critics swiftly condemned the threat as reckless. Raed Jarrar, advocacy director at DAWN, likened Trump to a 'mafia boss', stating: 'The UN Charter prohibits the threat of force against any state, and that prohibition binds the United States exactly as it binds everyone else.'

The threat followed an Iranian state TV report about a memorandum of understanding that would allegedly grant Iran and Oman joint control of the strait. The Trump administration dismissed the report as 'a complete fabrication'.

Hormuz has operated as a free international passage for decades, but Tehran closed the strait and asserted sovereignty after the US and Israel began bombing Iran in February.

During the cabinet meeting, Trump also reiterated calls for Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, to normalize relations with Israel as part of any future ceasefire deal, threatening to walk away from negotiations if they do not comply.

Source: www.aljazeera.com