Why has Trump threatened to bomb Oman, amid Iran war escalation?

The United States warned Oman that military force would be used if Oman became involved in the Strait of Hormuz dispute. The strait is a strategic shipping route for Gulf oil exports and carries more than 20 percent of global oil traffic. Although it is an international waterway, much of it lies within Iranian and Omani territorial waters, with some areas reaching UAE territorial waters. After joint attacks on Iran on February 28, Iran closed the waterway and asserted control, including charging tolls up to $2 million per ship at times. International maritime law generally prohibits charging tolls for natural straits, though countries may offer services such as insurance and docking assistance. Iran and the United States were reported to be close to a memorandum of understanding with Oman for joint oversight of passage.

"Nobody is going to control it. It's international waters, and Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we will have to blow them up. But, while Hormuz is an international strait, most of it is located solely in Iranian and Omani territorial waters not international waters with parts of its outlying areas reaching United Arab Emirates (UAE) territorial waters."

"As a natural waterway that is the only route for Gulf oil producers to ship exports to the open ocean, the strait has served as a free international maritime route for decades. Following the US-Israeli joint attacks on Iran on February 28, however, Tehran closed the waterway and began to assert sovereignty over it, including charging tolls of as much as $2m per ship at times."

"Under international maritime law, countries are not permitted to charge tolls to shipping passing through natural straits such as Hormuz, even where they are not in international waters. Countries can, however, provide services to shippers, such as insurance, maintenance and docking assistance."

"Shortly before Trump's comment on Wednesday, Iran's state television reported that Iran and the United States were close to agreeing on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) under which Tehran and Muscat would jointly control the strait. The proposal des"

Read at www.aljazeera.com