Trump's Oman outburst throws 'Switzerland of the Middle East' into the spotlight
A man views the Rasool al-Adham mosque from the corniche at Sultan Qaboos port in Oman's capital Muscat on February 5, 2026. The Trump administration's
A man views the Rasool al-Adham mosque from the corniche at Sultan Qaboos port in Oman's capital Muscat on February 5, 2026. The Trump administration's threats against Oman, a longtime U.S. ally, have thrown a country known for cultivating a reputation as the "Switzerland of the Middle East" firmly into the geopolitical spotlight. Positioned on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula and facing Iran across the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, Oman has served as a key intermediary in regional crises, including the U.S. and Israeli-led war against Iran.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday warned the U.S. would "aggressively" impose sanctions against Oman if it helped Iran to establish a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that typically handles around 20% of the world's global oil traffic. "Oman, in particular, should know that the U.S. Treasury will aggressively target any actors involved - directly or indirectly - in facilitating tolls for the Strait and any willing partners will be penalized," Bessent said in a post on X.
"All nations should reject outright any efforts by Iran to disrupt the free flow of commerce." His comments came less than 24 hours after President Donald Trump appeared to threaten military action against the Gulf partner. When asked by a reporter during a cabinet meeting for his thoughts on Oman and Iran overseeing trade through the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said, "Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we'll have to blow them up.
They understand that. They'll be fine."
The BriefWire