US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that if Oman attempts to control the Strait of Hormuz in conjunction with Iran, the US would launch a military strike against the sultanate. The threat came in response to an Iranian state TV report claiming an unofficial draft agreement existed to restore shipping traffic in the strait, with Iran and Oman jointly regulating the waterway.

"Oman will behave like everyone else, or we'll have to blow them up," Trump told reporters. The unusually harsh threat is directed at a country long regarded as a mediator in the Middle East, maintaining close ties with both Washington and Tehran.

Oman has traditionally played a mediating role between Arab Gulf states and Iran, according to experts. Among Gulf states, Oman has the closest relations with Tehran. Its location on the southern side of the Strait of Hormuz makes it strategically important in the current conflict.

However, there is little evidence that Oman seeks joint control of the strait with Iran. Analysts consider such reports "rather unrealistic," noting that Muscat has no interest in such an arrangement and instead prioritizes restoring safe and uninterrupted shipping through the strait.

Trump's threats are being received extremely negatively in the region, while recent Iranian attacks have heightened doubts about US security guarantees for Gulf states. Nevertheless, a US attack on Oman is considered highly unlikely, as it would further weaken US influence in the region and limit diplomatic options.

Source: www.dw.com