President Trump on Wednesday said the US would “blow up” the country of Oman if it doesn’t “behave,” a threat made when asked if he would accept a short-term deal that involved Iran and Oman jointly controlling the Strait of Hormuz.
“No, the strait’s got to be opened to everybody, it’s international waters. Nobody’s going to control it. We’ll watch over it, but nobody’s going to control it. That’s part of the negotiation,” Trump told reporters while hosting a cabinet meeting at the White House.
“Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we’ll have to blow them up. They understand that they’ll be fine,” the president added.
Iranian media reported last month that Iran’s initial proposal to end the war with the US involved charging a fee for ships transiting the strait, with the revenue split between Iran and Oman, which both have coasts along the waterway, and Iranian officials have held talks with their Omani counterparts on the issue.
Initially described as a “toll,” the issue is now being framed in different terms. “There is no toll. We need to pay attention to the words we use. We’re not after money. Iran and Oman need to create protocols for the safe passage of ships, and this will be based on international laws,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said this week.
“It’s only natural that the services we provide, like navigation and the preservation of the ecosystem of the Strait, the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman will have costs. These should not be considered tolls. Iran and Oman are being responsible in our efforts and I hope we will reach a conclusion soon,” Baghaei added.
Iran is unlikely to back down on the issues in its negotiations with the US as it seeks the funds to pay for reconstruction after the US-Israeli bombing campaign.
