Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, May 28: US President Donald Trump has warned Gulf nation Oman over its position on the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that no country would be allowed to control the strategically important waterway through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil passes.

Speaking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday, Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would remain open to all countries and rejected suggestions of Iran and Oman jointly managing the route.

“The strait is going to be open to everybody. It’s international waters,” Trump said, while also issuing a sharp warning to Oman to “behave”.

Oman has long remained a key ally of the United States in the Middle East and has often acted as a mediator between Washington and Tehran during periods of heightened tensions.

The development comes amid renewed tensions between the US and Iran following fresh American military strikes targeting Iranian positions.

According to reports, US forces intercepted and shot down four Iranian drones and also targeted an Iranian military base, accusing Tehran of carrying out “aggressive activity” that threatened regional security and commercial shipping.

The US military defended its actions by stating that it had acted with “restraint”, while Iran criticised the strikes and described them as a sign of “bad faith and unreliability”.

Despite ongoing diplomatic talks between Washington and Tehran, both sides remain divided over Iran’s nuclear programme and control over the Strait of Hormuz.

The US continues to insist that Iran must end its nuclear ambitions, while Tehran maintains that its nuclear programme is intended solely for civilian purposes.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes, making any escalation in the region a major concern for global energy markets and international security.