President Donald Trump made the statement during a cabinet meeting at the White House on 27/5, when asked if he would accept a short-term agreement allowing Oman and Iran to control the Strait of Hormuz.

"No, the strait must be open for everyone; this is international waters. We will oversee it, but no one is allowed to control it. That is part of the negotiation process. They want to control it, but no one can do that. Oman will also have to be reasonable like any other country, otherwise we will blow them away. They understand that, and they will be fine," he said.

President Donald Trump at a cabinet meeting at the White House on 27/5. Photo: AP

Some believed President Trump mistakenly said "Oman" instead of "Iran", but the X account of the US State Department quickly posted a video of his remarks, seemingly to reaffirm the message.

Omani officials have not yet commented on the information.

Oman, a nation known for its neutral stance, has never declared an intention to jointly control the Strait of Hormuz with Iran. The United States and Oman are close allies with strong relations spanning more than 200 years.

Bordering Oman and Iran, the Strait of Hormuz has been blocked for nearly three months since the conflict between the United States - Israel and Iran erupted, disrupting global energy markets. This shipping lane is a vital trade artery for oil and natural gas transportation. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused world energy prices to surge.

The United States has worked to reopen the strait, including deploying warships to escort commercial vessels, but with limited results. A plan to support cargo ships was also canceled just two days after its announcement early this month.

President Trump is working to find a way out of the conflict, pushing Iran toward a peace agreement even as he consistently rejects proposals from Tehran. The US leader on 27/5 warned he might abandon a peace deal with Iran unless other Middle Eastern nations agree to sign the Abraham Accords to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel.

Location of Oman, Iran, Strait of Hormuz. Graphic: Guardian

The United States does not have permanent military bases in Oman, but maintains strategic access agreements allowing Washington to use certain airports and seaports for logistics, refueling, and regional missions.

Oman's Duqm Port, a strategically crucial deep-water port located outside the Strait of Hormuz, has been used by the US navy for warship maintenance and repair.

Vu Hoang (According to Hill, AFP, Al Jazeera)