Oman did not take Trump's threats to strike the country seriously

The Omani authorities did not take seriously the recent threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to strike the sultanate over its contacts with Iran, the Al-Monitor portal reports, citing former and current Omani officials.

"We are puzzled... (Trump - ed.) is trying to find a scapegoat for the failure of the war. Frankly speaking, we do not take this seriously," a well-informed source in Muscat told the publication.

According to the portal, Washington's discontent was caused by talks between Muscat and Tehran on shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz. The United States fears that the "understanding" reached by the parties implies the introduction of transit fees, but the Omani authorities deny these plans, it adds.

Despite the fact that Muscat regularly informed the American administration about the progress of the dialogue, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened the sultanate with sanctions for cooperating with Iran, the article notes.

Omani diplomats are gradually getting used to the threats, the portal writes. Bilateral relations deteriorated sharply after Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi called on the United States for a diplomatic solution to the crisis, and then accused Washington of losing control over its foreign policy.

This past Monday, Trump, answering a question about the talks between Muscat and Tehran on control over the Strait of Hormuz, stated that the United States would strike Oman if it "got in the way."

Source: RIA Novosti