The United States issued a sharp and direct warning to its ally Oman on Thursday, threatening aggressive sanctions against any nation or entity found facilitating Iran’s attempts to impose a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent delivered the warning in an unambiguous post on X.
“The United States Government will not tolerate any effort to impose a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz. Oman, in particular, should know that the US Treasury will aggressively target any actors involved — directly or indirectly — in facilitating tolls for the Strait and any willing partners will be penalised,” Bessent said.
He closed with a pointed declaration: “All nations should reject outright any efforts by Iran to disrupt the free flow of commerce. Tehran’s days of terrorising the region and the world are over.”
The United States Government will not tolerate any effort to impose a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz. Oman, in particular, should know that the U.S. Treasury will aggressively target any actors involved – directly or indirectly – in facilitating tolls for the Strait and…
— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) May 28, 2026
Earlier, President Donald Trump on Wednesday appeared to threaten to attack Oman if it sides with Iran over reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said Oman must “behave” or he would “blow them up,” when he was asked if he would accept a short-term deal to allow Iran and the Gulf state to control the waterway.
“No, the strait is going to be open to everybody,” Trump told reporters during a cabinet meeting at the White House.
ALSO READ: US, Iran Reach Deal On 60-Day Ceasefire Extension MoU, Trump’s Final Approval Awaited: Report
“It’s international waters and Oman will behave just like everybody else or we’ll have to blow them up. They understand that, they’ll be fine.”
The singling out of Oman is significant. Muscat has historically served as a back-channel intermediary between Washington and Tehran, and the warning suggests the US believes Oman may be playing a role, or is at risk of playing one, in legitimising Iran’s maritime toll demands.
Meanwhile, Axios reported Thursday that US and Iranian negotiators have reached a tentative 60-day ceasefire extension MOU — though President Trump has yet to give it final approval, asking mediators for “a couple of days to think about it.”
The gap between Washington’s economic maximum pressure and its diplomatic outreach is getting wider.
ALSO READ: US To Shut Down Iranian Airlines’ Access To Landing Spots, Refueling And Ticket Sales: Scott Bessent
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