Washington — President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Oman, a longstanding U.S. ally, suggesting military action if the Gulf nation interferes with American-led negotiations with Iran, according to a report by Fox News.

The United States and Oman have been engaged in parallel discussions with Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint for global energy supplies. The waterway has remained largely closed for nearly six months amid the ongoing conflict between Washington and Tehran.

A Fox News correspondent revealed that Trump made the threat during a phone interview, using strong language to emphasize his position. The exact circumstances that would trigger such a response remain unclear.

Earlier in the day, Iranian officials indicated progress in their talks with Oman, stating they were nearing an agreement. Meanwhile, the status of U.S.-Iran negotiations remains uncertain as a 60-day Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries approaches expiration.

When asked by a BBC reporter in the Oval Office on Monday whether he sought an extension to the MoU, Trump responded with a firm "No."

The Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas typically flows, has been a focal point of tensions since the U.S. and Israel launched military strikes against Iran in February. Tehran has since restricted passage through the strait, prompting international efforts to restore free navigation.

Oman, which shares a border with the southern entrance of the strait, has positioned itself as a neutral mediator in the conflict. Despite suffering multiple strikes from Iran, the sultanate has played a pivotal role in facilitating negotiations to reopen the waterway.

Fox News reporter Trey Yingst quoted Trump as saying, "If Oman gets in the way, we'll take decisive military action against them." The president did not specify what actions by Oman would be considered obstructive to U.S. objectives.

During the same interview, Trump claimed the U.S. had established a direct backchannel with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a powerful military and political force within the country. The assertion was swiftly denied by an IRGC spokesman.

"There are no discussions between IRGC officials and the Americans," the spokesman told Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency. "Trump's statement is nothing more than a delusional fantasy, born from his failures and desperation in this war."

Trump's warning to Oman came just hours after Iran announced it had reached an agreement with the sultanate to allow ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that "an understanding has been reached regarding the transit route map," with both sides working to finalize details before issuing a joint statement. Oman had previously described the talks as productive.

Earlier this month, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that a full reopening of the strait hinged on the U.S. providing compensation for what Tehran describes as violations of the MoU. Reports from Reuters, citing an Iranian official, indicated that Tehran was seeking transit fees amounting to 5% to 7% of the value of cargoes passing through the strait.

Despite the looming expiration of the MoU, Trump appeared in no rush to end hostilities. In his interview with Fox News, he characterized Iran as skilled but weakened adversaries. "They're good poker players, but they're dying," he said. "I have no time schedule. I'm not in a hurry."

The memorandum, signed on June 18, was intended to establish a ceasefire and partially reopen the Strait of Hormuz. However, the agreement collapsed shortly after both sides resumed military strikes. On July 8, Trump declared the ceasefire "over" and launched a verbal attack on Iran's leadership, labeling them "scum" and "cuckoo" following renewed clashes.

As the MoU's expiration approached, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to reiterate his primary objective: "The number one goal is, and always will be, that Iran cannot have, in any way, shape, or form, a nuclear weapon."