President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Oman, a United States ally, if the Gulf nation impedes the U.S. administration's separate negotiations with Iran, according to a report by Fox News. The U.S. and Oman have been engaged in distinct talks with Tehran aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global trade route that has been largely inaccessible for nearly six months amidst the ongoing U.S.-Iran war.

The U.S. president reportedly made the aggressive statement during a phone interview with a Fox News reporter, using expletive language to convey his threat. This statement comes at a time when U.S.-Iran relations remain precarious, with a 60-day Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two nations nearing its expiration, casting uncertainty over the future of direct talks.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, President Trump responded negatively when asked by BBC News about seeking an extension to the MoU. The Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas typically passes, has been significantly disrupted since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in February. Reopening this vital waterway has become a central point of diplomatic and military focus.

Oman, which shares a border with the southern side of the Strait, has maintained a neutral stance in the conflict. However, the nation has experienced several strikes from Iran and is actively involved in mediating discussions with Tehran to facilitate the reopening of the Strait. Concurrently, Washington has pursued its own initiatives to achieve the same objective.

Fox reporter Trey Yingst quoted Trump as stating, "If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the shit out of them." The specific actions or circumstances that President Trump considers as "getting in the way" of his objectives remain unclear. During the same interview, Trump also asserted that the U.S. maintained a direct backchannel with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a powerful military and economic entity within Iran.

An IRGC spokesman, however, refuted Trump's claim, telling the semi-official Tasnim News Agency that no talks were occurring between IRGC officials and Americans, characterizing Trump's assertion as "fantasies caused by the delusions and nightmares he has suffered as a result of defeat and desperation in the war."

President Trump's threat to Oman was issued mere hours after Iranian officials announced they were close to finalizing an agreement with Oman regarding passage through the Strait. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, informed reporters that an understanding had been reached concerning the transit route, with details to be finalized before a joint statement is issued. Oman had previously described these negotiations as positive.

Earlier in August, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that a full reopening of the Strait was contingent upon Iran receiving compensation from the U.S. for what Tehran termed violations of the MoU. Reuters, citing an Iranian official, had previously reported that Tehran was seeking fees ranging from 5% to 7% of the cargo value for vessels transiting the Strait.