TEHRAN: Iran’s top diplomat said on Friday that Tehran and Muscat have discussed the future administration of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, after US President Donald Trump threatened Oman against cooperating with Iran over control of the vital waterway.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he told his Omani counterpart, Badr Albusaidi, that any final agreement to end the three-month war in the Middle East would depend on Washington abandoning what he des­cribed as “excessive demands” and inconsistent positions. In a summary of the call, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Mr Araghchi stressed that progress in talks with the United States required a shift in the American stance.

Separately, in a post on X, Araghchi said he and Albusaidi held a “productive call” that included discussions on the Strait of Hormuz and its future management in accordance with their sovereign responsibilities and international law.

He added that he expressed Iran’s solidarity with Oman “in the face of any threat”. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Baghaei separately said management of the strait “must be decided by Iran and Oman.”

The diplomatic exchange followed sharp remarks from Trump, who on Wednesday threatened Oman, a longtime US partner, against any role in imposing fees for passage through the strait.

“The Strait is going to be open to everybody,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “It’s international waters and Oman will behave just like everybody else or we’ll have to blow them up. They understand that, they’ll be fine.”

Trump said he was not satisfied with the status of negotiations with Iran and that Washington was not discussing sanctions relief. He said that under a potential framework agreement, the strait would reopen immediately and “nobody’s going to control it”.

The US on Thursday reiterated its warning. “The United States Government will not tolerate any effort to impose a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a post on X.

“Oman should know that the US Treasury will aggressively target any actors involved - directly or indirectly - in facilitating tolls for the Strait and any willing partners will be penalised,” Bessent added.

The Strait of Hormuz, parts of which lie in Iranian and Omani territorial waters, has been largely blocked since fighting erupted Feb 28, sending global energy prices higher and disrupting trade. US efforts, including a naval blockade of Iranian ports, have yet to fully restore commercial shipping.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2026