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Caught in the middle, Oman shrugs off Trump's latest Iran threat

For the second time in months, President Donald Trump has threatened to strike the US partner as it holds talks with Iran.

Win McNamee/Getty Images
US President Donald Trump (R) interacts with Oman Deputy Prime Minister Sayyid Asaad (2nd R) as they prepare to pose for photos with leaders during the Gulf Cooperation Council Leaders Summit on May 14, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Win McNamee/Getty Images

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WASHINGTON — When President Donald Trump first threatened to bomb Oman, its officials were stunned and initially wondered whether he misspoke. Trump's renewed threat this week, however, was largely met with exasperation in a country that’s long cultivated a role as the Middle East’s neutral powerbroker.

“If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the shit out of them,” Trump told Fox News reporter Trey Yingst in a phone interview Monday. 

Speaking to reporters later that day, Trump added, “I don’t think [Oman] behaved very well, but we’d handle them very easily just like we do others.”

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