Donald Trump threatens to blow up one of USA's oldest allies following Iran war
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Politics, Iran, World News
Rhianna Benson
Featured Image Credit: Kent NISHIMURA / AFP via Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Politics, Iran, World News
Donald Trump is making threats to 'blow up' entire countries once again.
This time, he's name-dropped one of America's oldest and closest Middle Eastern allies.
The shocking, off-the-cuff remark was issued during a White House cabinet meeting hosted earlier today (27 May), where Trump discussed the current status of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
He then turned his attention to Oman, vowing to obliterate the entire nation if it failed to assist with the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz, despite the country having boasted close ties to the US for some time.
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The Strait of Hormuz is located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, and is critical in shipping oil around the world.
It was initially closed following a US-Israeli missile launch on the Iranian capital, Tehran, back in February, which has since descended into a three-month war. Today, it remains heavily restricted and largely closed off to standard global transit, having already resulted in a major spike in both energy and fuel prices around the world.
Tensions recently escalated once again following fresh airstrikes from Trump last week, which were followed by a retaliatory Iranian missile attack that targeted an American navy base.
Iran also threatened to collapse the already-fragile ceasefire agreement it had made with Trump and Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu.
Continuing in his rant today, Trump reiterated that Oman, amongst other nations in the area, must sign the Abraham Accords - a treaty encouraging the normalisation of diplomatic relations between Israel and its Middle Eastern neighbours.
Asked by a reporter if a short-term deal might permit Iran and Oman, a country known for its neutrality, shared control of the Strait, Trump hit out: "Oman will behave just like everyone else, or we’ll have to blow them up."
The Republican politician went on to warn: "Nobody’s going to control it. They understand that. They’ll be fine."
Trump's remarks have certainly come as a shock to many political onlookers, especially given that Oman recently played a key mediator role in discussions between Washington and Tehran.
His recent turn may have been sparked by comments made previously by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Albusaidi.
In an article shared in March, he wrote that America has 'lost control of its own foreign policy'.
Weeks later, bin Hamad Albusaidi added of Iran: "Whatever your view of Iran, this war is not of their making."
Trump's latest threat comes weeks after he issued Iranian leaders a similarly aggressive warning.
Speaking on Truth Social in April, he told the country that a 'whole civilisation' of Iranians 'will die tonight' if they refused to make a deal on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
"I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will," the 79-year-old wrote at the time. "However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalised minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?
"We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!"