Get you up to speed: US Treasury threatens Oman with sanctions over Hormuz Strait
The United States has warned Oman of potential sanctions if it assists Iran in implementing tolls in the Strait of Hormuz. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Washington will “aggressively target” any parties involved in this facilitation.
The US Treasury indicated that sanctions would target any entity linked to tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing the need for all nations to reject Iranian efforts to disrupt commerce. The situation escalated less than 24 hours after President Trump threatened military action against Oman, signalling a significant shift in US policy towards its Gulf ally.
The US Treasury has issued a stern warning to Oman, stating it will “aggressively target” any individuals or entities facilitating tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the urgency of the situation. In light of the escalating tensions, Oman has not indicated any intention to seek control over the strait, which presents potential avenues for further diplomatic engagement.
What remains unclear — It is not clear what is driving Washington’s recent posture towards Oman amid threats of sanctions and military action.
US Treasury warns Oman of sanctions over potential tolls in Hormuz Strait
News|Donald TrumpUS Treasury threatens Oman with sanctions over Hormuz Strait
A top US official says Oman should know that Washington ‘will aggressively target’ actors that facilitate tolls in waterway.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says all countries should reject ‘any efforts by Iran to disrupt the free flow of commerce’ [File: Abdul Saboor/Reuters]
The United States has warned that it would “aggressively” impose sanctions on Oman if it helps Iran establish a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz, intensifying President Donald Trump’s threats against the Gulf ally.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday that Washington will “not tolerate” either country imposing fees on commercial ships in the strategic waterway.
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“Oman, in particular, should know that the US 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 social media post.
“All nations should reject outright any efforts by Iran to disrupt the free flow of commerce. Tehran’s days of terrorizing the region and the world are over.”
The statement comes less than 24 hours after President Trump threatened to bomb Oman, a key US ally known for its neutrality and mediation efforts in regional crises, including the war between the US and Iran.
While Iran has suggested that the governments in Tehran and Muscat could jointly manage the Hormuz Strait, Oman has not said it is seeking control over the waterway, parts of which flow through its territory.
It is not clear what is driving Washington’s recent posture towards Oman. It is highly unusual for the US to threaten sanctions and military action against a close security and economic partner.
Since the US and Israel started bombing Iran without direct provocation on February 28, Iran has closed the strait and claimed sovereignty over it.
About 20 percent of the world’s oil flowed through Hormuz before the conflict, so the Iranian blockade has put a major strain on energy supplies, sending prices soaring.
The US and Iran have been indirectly negotiating to reach an agreement for a comprehensive end to the war, and control over the Hormuz Strait has emerged as a major point of disagreement.
Trump has stressed that the strait must be a free passageway.
When asked whether he would accept joint Iranian-Omani control over the strait in the short term, the US president told reporters on Wednesday: “Nobody is going to control it. It’s international waters, and Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we will have to blow them up.”
Ali Bagheri Kani, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said on Thursday that Tehran will not allow Hormuz to be a source of insecurity for the country.
“The powers that have used this passage against Iran’s security must be held accountable,” he was quoted as saying by Iran’s public television.
Bagheri Kani added that Iran seeks to “establish a just order that negates hegemony and domination and strengthens trust and cooperation” in the region.