Trump threatens to bomb Oman if it 'gets in the way' over Iran issue

The latest escalation in Gulf tensions centers on a threat directed at Oman, a nation long regarded as a neutral intermediary in the region. The statement, made during a Fox News interview, carries particular weight given Oman's historic role as a quiet diplomatic bridge between Washington and Tehran, as well as its proximity to the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which a substantial share of global crude oil flows. A direct threat against this mediator signals a hardening of the US posture that markets are likely to interpret as a broader regional destabilization factor.

Compounding the uncertainty is the president's assertion that the US maintained a direct backchannel with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a claim that has been publicly denied. The contradiction underscores a lack