US President Donald Trump threatened military action against Oman while confirming Washington maintains a direct backchannel with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Speaking to Fox News on Monday, Trump warned that the US would bomb Oman if it interfered with negotiations regarding shipping control in the Strait of Hormuz.
As a crucial 60-day diplomatic window neared its conclusion, United States leadership issued stark warnings regarding both regional mediation efforts and the broader military balance in the key waterway.
Strait of Hormuz Threats and the Oman Mediation Clash
Diplomats from Oman and Iran had spent recent weeks engaging in technical negotiations to hammer out a provisional arrangement for managing commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
When questioned about those negotiations during an interview with Fox News, the American president issued an unambiguous military threat concerning the Gulf nation’s involvement. According to reporting of the interview, the administration made clear that any interference with American control over the waterway would trigger immediate retaliation.
“If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the s*** out of them.”
Donald Trump, US President, via Fox News
The declaration accompanied statements insisting that Tehran must raise the white flag of surrender
as economic and diplomatic pressures mount. Describing the opposing leadership as skilled tacticians facing severe domestic strain, the administration signaled it feels under no pressure to rush an agreement.
Backchannel Talks with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Beneath the public threats of military force, Washington confirmed that active, clandestine communication channels remain operational. The administration acknowledged that American representatives are speaking directly with officials from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Prior reporting from Axios had identified Kurdistan Regional Government President Nechirvan Barzani as a central figure tapped to serve as a secret intermediary, citing sources with direct knowledge of the discussions. Barzani’s background—including time spent living in Iran during the 1980s, studies at the University of Tehran, fluency in Farsi, and personal relationships with several IRGC members—positioned him as a vital link for the backchannel talks.
Despite these parallel discussions, the administration maintained that its primary strategic objective remains preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon in any shape or form. Assertions that the military hardware deployed so far amounts to minor expenditures were accompanied by complaints that former US President Joe Biden depleted advanced air-defense stockpiles through transfers to Ukraine.
Pressure on Gaza, Hamas Disarmament, and Regional Policy
Simultaneously, the administration applied heavy diplomatic leverage across other regional actors, directing attention toward the ongoing conflict in Gaza. A high-level delegation—including Jared Kushner, Board of Peace head Nikolay Mladenov, and Tony Blair—met in Jerusalem with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials.
The meetings were designed to pressure the Israeli government into advancing the next phases of the American peace framework for the enclave. Report highlighted that the broader diplomatic push encompasses demands for the disarmament of Hamas and an eventual Israeli military withdrawal.
Asserting that a separate communication channel exists with Hamas, the administration claimed that the militant group has agreed to lay down its weapons and demilitarize the Gaza Strip. Consequently, the White House argued that ongoing Israeli military strikes in the territory are unwarranted.
Upcoming Israeli Politics and the Uncertain Diplomatic Horizon
As international pressure mounts on multiple fronts, domestic political dynamics in allied nations also drew commentary from Washington. Addressing upcoming Israeli elections scheduled for October, the administration indicated a preference to remain neutral while leaving the door open for targeted political interventions.
With the 60-day ceasefire window expiring and parallel talks over the Strait of Hormuz hanging in the balance, the intersection of backchannel diplomacy, military posturing, and peace plan implementation leaves the region at a critical juncture.
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