UMVA has learned that President Donald Trump warned the Gulf kingdom of Oman to “behave” or face a dramatic “blow up,” exposing a rare fissure with one of Washington’s most trusted Middle East allies.
During a heated Cabinet meeting, the president declared, “The strait’s gotta be open to everybody… Nobody’s going to control it. We’ll watch over it, but nobody’s going to control it… If Oman doesn’t behave, we’ll have to blow ‘em up.” The fiery remark landed amid a bitter dispute over the future of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow chokepoint through which roughly one‑fifth of the world’s oil flows.
According to information obtained by UMVA, U.S. officials have been pressing Oman and Iran over a possible tolling system or joint management of the waterway, fearing such a scheme could hand Tehran undue sway over a critical artery of global commerce.
Oman, perched on the southern rim of Hormuz, has long walked a diplomatic tightrope, maintaining close security ties with the United States while quietly nurturing a backchannel to Tehran. This dual track has enabled Muscat to act as a discreet conduit for secret U.S.–Iran talks that paved the way for historic nuclear negotiations.
Experts describe Oman as the “Switzerland of the Middle East,” a neutral arena where adversaries can whisper, and where Washington has historically relied on Muscat to convey messages that other regional partners could not.
Yet the president’s stark warning signals a deeper rift. Analysts say the administration’s frustration stems from Omani officials exploring proposals that could grant Iran administrative or financial control of Hormuz, a prospect Washington views as a direct threat to freedom of navigation.
“If Iran were to manage the strait, it could set a dangerous precedent for other waterways,” one specialist warned, noting the potential ripple effect on chokepoints like the Bab al‑Mandeb, where Iran‑backed Houthi forces already test regional limits.
Critics argue that while Oman’s mediating role has been indispensable, its willingness to engage with Tehran on sensitive arrangements risks eroding U.S. credibility and emboldening rival powers.
Nonetheless, long‑standing ties run deep. For over a century and a half, Oman has been a steadfast partner, providing Washington with a rare channel to converse with Iran and to broker ceasefires in conflicts such as Yemen’s protracted war.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the current clash over Hormuz underscores a pivotal moment: the United States must balance its reliance on Oman’s diplomatic bridge with the imperative to safeguard global oil flow and uphold the principle that international waters remain free from any single nation’s control.
