Fresh Threat Raises Tensions With Key US Ally and Regional Mediator 
US President Donald Trump has threatened military action against Oman, warning that the Gulf country could face US strikes if it interferes with Washington’s efforts to resolve the conflict with Iran.
Trump made the remarks during a Fox News interview on Monday, saying the US would attack Oman if it “gets in the way” of his efforts involving Iran.
The threat is particularly significant because Oman is a longtime US ally and has traditionally played an important role as a mediator and backchannel between Washington and Tehran.
Strait of Hormuz at the Centre of the Dispute
The warning comes as Iran and Oman work on arrangements aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. The waterway is one of the world's most important energy routes, carrying a significant share of global oil and gas shipments.
Trump has demanded that Iran surrender and has maintained that preventing Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons remains his main objective. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts have struggled to produce a lasting agreement.
For ordinary people, the crisis could have wider consequences. Continued disruption around Hormuz risks higher oil prices, more expensive transport and increased fuel costs around the world.
Oman's role as a mediator now puts it in an increasingly difficult position between its relationship with Washington and its efforts to negotiate with Tehran.