Trump threatens to bomb Oman if it 'gets in the way' of US-Iran negotiations

Says that Iran should surrender to end a war with the US

United States President Donald Trump on Monday threatened military action against Oman if it interfered with US-Iran negotiations, while saying Washington was in direct contact with officials from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

"If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the shit out of them," Trump told Fox News reporter during a phone interview.

Oman and Iran have been in talks to try to ​reach an agreement to restore commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, ​which carried 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies before the ‌US-Israeli attacks on Iran began in late February.

Trump said that Iran should surrender to end a war with the US as talks between the countries remained ​stalled.

"They should put up the white flag of surrender," Trump ‌told Fox News.

An interim deal agreed to in June declared an "immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts", but quickly ​unravelled, with Trump saying it was "over" on July 7 and ​Iran's foreign ministry declaring it "suspended" a week later.

Read More: Iran threatens to go on offensive in Strait of Hormuz if diplomacy with US fails

Under that memorandum ⁠of understanding, Iran and the US committed to negotiating a final deal — ​covering broader issues such as the fate of Iran's nuclear programme — in ​a maximum of 60 days, extendable by mutual consent. Monday marks 60 days since the MOU was signed.

He also confirmed that Washington has a backchannel with the IRGC.

“We have a backchannel with the IRGC. We are speaking directly with the IRGC officials in Iran,” Trump said.

On Gaza, he said: "Israelis should not be striking in Gaza. Hamas agreed to lay down their weapons."

Trump also said the US maintained a separate channel of communication with Hamas.

“We have a different channel with Hamas, and ultimately they are giving up their guns,” he said.

Asked about Israeli politics, Trump said he believed it was “most appropriate” for him to stay out of the country’s elections, while leaving open the possibility of endorsing a candidate.

“I think it's most appropriate for me to stay out of Israeli elections, but I may endorse somebody,” he said.

Also Read: Trump 'very happy' over signing of Makkah Joint Defence Agreement

Trump told Fox News that the midterms were not ​impacting ⁠his strategy on Iran.

"Midterms have nothing to do with my thinking," he said.

The dispute over control of the Strait of Hormuz has driven up fuel prices and ​put pressure on Trump ​to end ⁠a war that is unpopular at home ahead of the November midterm elections that will decide control of the US ​Congress.

Earlier on Monday, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: "The number one goal ⁠is, and ​always will be, that Iran cannot have, ​in any way, shape, or form, a Nuclear Weapon," repeating one of his stated rationales ​for the war.