U.S. does not plan to attack Oman for supporting Iran, media report
The U.S. has no immediate plan to attack Oman for its support of Iran, despite threats from American authorities, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing unnamed American officials.
Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the United States would "blow up" Oman if it attempted to take control of the Strait of Hormuz. In addition, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Oman that the United States would actively pursue anyone facilitating the collection of Iranian tolls for passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
"There is no immediate plan to attack the country for its support of Iran, despite Trump's statement at a cabinet meeting last week," the report states.
Unnamed Arab officials also told the newspaper that Omani officials were shocked by the sudden hostility from the U.S. and are working on how to respond.
"Washington increasingly interprets Oman's approach to dealing with Tehran as hostile and is pressuring Oman to choose a side (in the Middle East conflict - ed.) and sever diplomatic relations with Iran," the publication reports, citing sources.
As the publication emphasizes, U.S. criticism of Oman is largely linked to Muscat's lack of significant influence on the American lobby. The Wall Street Journal also writes that Oman does not hold the same importance in oil production as other U.S. allies in the region and does not host an American military base, so the attitude toward this country differs from that toward other allies in the Middle East.
The publication also notes that Oman is currently losing its position as a state with which both sides of the conflict wish to cooperate, but choosing the U.S. risks strikes from Iran similar to those carried out against neighboring countries in the course of the conflict.
Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the United States would "blow up" Oman if it attempted to take control of the Strait of Hormuz.
"The straits will be open to everyone, and no one will control them. We will keep an eye on them. Oman will behave like everyone else, or we will have to blow them up," Trump said during a cabinet meeting at the White House.
Prior to that, Deputy Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Bagheri Kani told journalists that Tehran and Muscat are conducting joint negotiations to determine a new procedure for the passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. and Israel began striking targets on Iranian territory on February 28. Washington and Tehran announced a ceasefire on April 8, but the United States imposed a blockade of Iranian ports, and Iran announced the establishment of special transit rules through the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: RIA Novosti
