President Trump on Monday threatened to bomb Oman if Oman “blocks” a US-Iran
peace deal. Oman, a US partner that has remained neutral in US‑Iran hostilities,
controls waters that include parts of the Strait of Hormuz and has been targeted
in Iranian attacks Tehran frames as retaliatory strikes. Analysts say a formal
Iran‑Oman agreement could conflict with a core US demand — that Iran surrender
control of the strait as a condition for ending the war — and could instead
formalize and legitimize Iranian influence over transit. US anger at being
excluded from any agreement is also cited as a driver of the threat. A key
unresolved issue is whether Iran would be allowed to levy charges on vessels;
international law generally bars transit fees in natural waterways that are not
international waters, though states may charge for services such as insurance,
environmental protection and port services. It is unclear whether talks would
cover fees. Market implications include higher shipping insurance and oil-market
risk premia and increased potential for US‑Iran naval confrontation in the
Strait of Hormuz.
