Gulf partner of the United States. This surprising statement came as talks to end the ongoing war with Iran remain stalled.
Trump rejected reports suggesting Iran and Oman would jointly manage shipping through the strait as part of a proposed peace framework. He insisted the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas, remains international waters and threatened severe consequences if Oman tried to assert control.
This declaration shocked many, given Oman’s history as a close US ally and mediator in the region. Earlier reports had claimed Iran and Oman might oversee shipping traffic, with the US reducing its military presence—an idea the White House quickly dismissed as false.
Beyond the strait, negotiations are also deadlocked over Iran’s nuclear program. Iran apparently wants to address nuclear issues in a later phase, but the US remains firm that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons, rejecting any compromises.
Meanwhile, Trump urged more Gulf and Muslim-majority countries to join the Abraham Accords, agreements that normalize relations between Israel and some Arab nations, linking progress with Iran to broader regional cooperation.
At home, the war’s unpopularity and rising energy prices have created political pressure, but Trump remains defiant, saying he is unconcerned about upcoming midterm elections and doubling down on his hardline stance.
In this high-stakes moment, the future of peace in the Gulf hangs in the balance, with the Strait of Hormuz at the center of a complex and volatile geopolitical struggle.
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