Trump Threatens Oman Amid Rising Hormuz Tensions
Expired French MOU and Iran's 'Offensive' Stance Escalate Regional Volatility
Image: Eddie Pollard / AI
Sarah Connor
Donald Trump threatened to bomb Oman, intensifying regional instability.
US President Donald Trump warned on Tuesday that Iran would be 'hit very hard' if the Strait of Hormuz did not open 'very soon'. This aggressive stance emerges as Iranian officials stated on Monday that a shipping deal with Oman for passage through the Strait of Hormuz was nearing finalization.
Oman reportedly seeks a dual-route 'median lane' deal for free and full movement. The 60-day Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Trump signed with France on June 17 has now expired without any deal materializing.
A senior Iranian official stated that Iran will shift to a 'fully offensive' posture if the US does not implement the MOU on its terms within weeks. US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent outlined potential economic measures against Iran, including the blockade of Iranian ships.
Amid these developments, an imposter posing as Trump's chief of staff reportedly contacted Andy Burnham. Trump also announced he would scale back US military drills with South Korea.
He praised his relationship with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, contrasting with previous foreign policy approaches that JD Vance claimed were 'dumb' compared to Trump's 'smart' strategy.