2026-08-19 · contested story
Live Updates: Trump threatens to bomb Oman with Iran war stuck in stalemate as 60-day negotiation period ends
President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Oman, a longtime U.S. ally in the Gulf, if it 'gets in the way' of his efforts to end the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, telling Fox News 'If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the shit out of them.' The threat—his second against Oman after a similar 'blow them up' remark at a May Cabinet meeting—came as a 60-day negotiating window between Washington and Tehran expired without a breakthrough, and as Iran and Oman announced they had reached an understanding on a transit route through the contested Strait of Hormuz. Trump also urged Iran to 'put up the white flag of surrender,' said he was 'not in a hurry' to reach a deal, and confirmed a secret backchannel with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
How each side frames it
left
"The latest threats against Oman, which is not a party to the war, have illustrated how Trump's unpredictable and often outrageous approach to diplomacy has upset US partners and failed to achieve the breakthrough that he has promised to end the war."
"Trump, 79, Threatens to 'Blow Up' Another U.S. Ally"
"Trump threatens to 'blow up' another sovereign nation in off-the-cuff Cabinet meeting remark"
"as a diplomatic window agreed with Tehran ran out with no final agreement in sight"
"This is the second time Trump has threatened to strike the US ally."
center
"Some U.S. officials see Oman as favoring Iran, while others say Trump is lashing out over failures to make a nuclear deal"
"Trump threatened Oman because he's not happy that it's close to a deal with Iran over the strait, two regional officials said Tuesday."
"With whipsawing fuel prices and public opposition to the war weighing on Republicans ahead of November's midterm elections, Trump has faced mounting pressure to end a stalemate that has dragged on for nearly six months."
"Iran's continued attacks and oil flows still well below pre-war levels suggest the United States does not fully control the Strait of Hormuz."
"Oman is caught between two heavily armed and stubborn powers."
right
"President Trump threatened to attack Oman Wednesday if the Arab nation partners with Iran to assert joint control over the Strait of Hormuz."
"US and Iranian negotiators are working to finalize a memorandum of understanding that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping — without tolls"
"Trump says U.S. can handle Oman "very easily""
"'It's international waters, and Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we'll have to blow them up. They understand that. They'll be fine.'"
What each side left out
The left left out — covered by the The Wall Street Journal & Yahoo/CNN & NBC DFW/AP
- The specific strategic rationale that an Oman-Iran deal would cut against a core U.S. demand that Iran relinquish control of the strait
- The evidence that the U.S. is actually gaining ground and Iran is losing control of Hormuz shipping (Kpler data)
The left left out — covered by the The Times of Israel
- Trump's stated 'number one goal' that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and Kushner's characterization of 'very positive and active conversations'
The right left out — covered by the Al Jazeera & NBC DFW/AP
- That Oman has nearly 200 years of ties with the U.S. and has historically served as a neutral mediator/backchannel
- The IRGC denial that any direct talks are taking place, calling Trump's claim 'fantasies'
The right left out — covered by the Sky News & Google News (Rep. Dina Titus post)
- Trump's low approval rating (33%) and public opposition to the war weighing on Republicans ahead of midterms
- Democratic and analyst criticism that the threat is a 'strategic failure'
The center left out — covered by the The Daily Beast & The Independent
- Explicit moral characterization of the threat as reckless or the emphasis on Trump's age/erratic behavior found in left outlets
What's actually true?
[verified] Trump told Fox News 'If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the shit out of them.'
[verified] This was the second time Trump threatened Oman; in May he said at a Cabinet meeting Oman would 'behave just like everybody else, or we'll have to blow them up.'
[verified] A 60-day memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran, signed June 17, expired on Monday with no renewal.
[verified] Iran announced it had reached an understanding with Oman on a transit route through the Strait of Hormuz, with ships entering via an Iran-controlled route and exiting via an Oman-controlled route without tolls during an interim period.
[verified] Oman is a longtime U.S. ally that has never entered direct conflict with the U.S. and has served as a mediator/backchannel between Washington and Tehran.
[verified] The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly one-fifth of the world's seaborne oil supplies and was effectively closed by Iran since the war began February 28.
[verified] Trump said Iran should 'put up the white flag of surrender' and that he was 'not in a hurry' with 'no time schedule.'
[verified] Trump said he would declare the Strait of Hormuz a 'territory of the United States,' prompting Iran to retort it 'will remain Iranian.'
The narrative clash
Whether the U.S. controls the Strait of Hormuz
Left: A former senior US diplomat has questioned Donald Trump's assertion that the US now has 'total control' of the Strait Hormuz... 'I think that he's not controlling the Strait of Hormuz'
Right: That led President Donald Trump to declare Monday that the United States has 'total control over the strait'... More than 80% of liquids transits through the Strait of Hormuz over the past two weeks have taken the Omani route
Whether direct U.S.-IRGC talks are occurring
Left: An IRGC spokesman denied Trump's claim of direct talks... 'There are no talks taking place between IRGC officials and the Americans, and this lie by Trump is merely fantasies'
Right: Trump confirmed to Fox News that Washington has established a secret backchannel with officials from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, following an Axios report on the matter.
28 sources analyzed
The Guardian US Al Jazeera MSN (UK) Politico Sky News USA Today CNN The Daily Beast The Damage Report The Independent Military.com The Washington Post Taipei Times Yahoo! Search Google Search Dallas-Fort Worth News The Times of Israel CBS News The Wall Street Journal France 24 First Post BBC News New York Post CNBC KGW 8 GB News NDTV Charlie Kirk