Trump threatened to bomb Oman because he’s unhappy with country’s deal with Iran, officials say

Two regional officials told AP that U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Oman on Aug. 18, 2026, saying it is unhappy with Oman’s proximity to a prospective arrangement with Iran covering how ships would be managed in the Strait of Hormuz.

The officials said the Trump administration has told Oman it opposes parts of an as-yet yet-to-be-announced deal, including a joint Iranian and Omani management plan for an “exit route” out of the strait that is important for global oil and gas supplies. They also said the U.S. believes Oman has not been tough enough in talks with Iran, including over Oman’s plans to collect voluntary fees from vessels.

AP reported that, while the diplomacy over strait management continued, a projectile hit a ship as it sailed out of the strait, and a cargo vessel was assessed as a “constructive total loss” after multiple projectiles off Yemen’s coast, according to the British military’s maritime monitoring agency UKMTO.

Iranian officials said the strait would not reopen until U.S. conditions are met, while Trump posted that the strait is still “open and operating” despite limited traffic and the end of a 60-day negotiating period. AP reported that the White House declined comment on Trump’s threat.

AP also described additional incident reporting in the region, including missiles launched from Iran toward the UAE and another projectile hitting a ship off Oman early Aug. 18. UKMTO did not provide details about the ship or cargo and said authorities were investigating.