Trump Threatens Oman Over Strait of Hormuz Negotiations

The threat highlights the escalating volatility surrounding the maritime choke point, which has been closed since the onset of the war in February. Despite significant military expenditure—including the depletion of nearly all Army Tactical Missile Systems and Precision Strike Missiles—the U.S. has failed to force a reopening of the route. Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute noted that this is not the first time the administration has pressured Oman for attempting to mediate a compromise on the strait’s control.

Energy markets are reacting to the prolonged closure. Data from maritime tracking firm Kpler indicates that traffic has slowed to a near halt, with only five vessels transiting the strait on Saturday and none on Sunday. This represents a drastic drop from the pre-war average of 130 ships daily. Consequently, Brent crude prices surged past $89 per barrel on Monday, while U.S. gasoline prices climbed to an average of $4.06 per gallon. Reports suggest the situation may intensify, as intelligence officials indicate that Iran is utilizing the current lull to prepare for an expanded confrontation to raise the operational costs for the United States.