Strait of Hormuz Crisis Escalates as Trump Threatens Oman and Iran Shifts to Offensive Posture

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a threat to bomb Oman over the Strait of Hormuz, coinciding with Iran's signal that it may adopt a "fully offensive" policy and undertake military action if diplomatic efforts fail, according to Reuters reports.

During a Monday phone interview with Fox News, U.S. President Donald Trump directed threats at Oman. This comes as Oman, a key U.S. ally and regional mediator, collaborates separately with Iran on an agreement to reopen maritime traffic in the vital shipping lane. Iranian officials stated that Tehran and Oman were nearing a finalized understanding regarding transit routes through the strait.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei noted that both nations reached an agreement on the transit route map and are currently finalizing details. Additionally, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Washington has been in direct communication with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), though a spokesperson for the group denied this assertion in statements to the Tasnim News Agency.

Amid these developments, Qatar issued a denial regarding the detention of Iranian pilots, stating that Iran failed to respond to a rescue invitation. The Strait of Hormuz remains the primary flashpoint for negotiations, historically handling about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments prior to the conflict.

A June memorandum of understanding—facilitated by Pakistani mediation and Qatari support—previously set a framework to conclude military operations and advance broader talks on Iran's nuclear program, sanctions, and the Strait of Hormuz. Although the 60-day negotiation window concluded on Monday without a final deal, Tehran maintains that the memorandum did not enforce a strict deadline.

A senior Iranian official informed Reuters that Tehran has transitioned from a defensive stance to a "fully offensive" posture, warning of potential military action to challenge the U.S. naval blockade should diplomacy collapse. Iran's terms are expected to be conveyed to Washington via mediators, including Pakistan and other regional states.