Bessent Threatens Oman Sanctions Over Hormuz Tolls as 20% of Global Oil Trade Stays at Risk
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · May 28
Bessent Threatens Oman Sanctions Over Hormuz Tolls as 20% of Global Oil Trade Stays at Risk
16 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · May 28
Scott Bessent said the US Treasury would “aggressively” sanction Oman if it directly or indirectly helps Iran impose fees on commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The warning sharpened Washington’s stance less than 24 hours after Donald Trump threatened military action, saying the US would not accept any Iranian or joint Iranian-Omani control over the waterway.
Hormuz carried about 20% of global oil flows before the war, and Iran’s closure of the strait since February 28 has strained energy supplies and pushed prices higher.
Oman has not said it wants control of the strait, making the US threat unusual against a close Gulf ally, even as indirect US-Iran talks continue with navigation rights a central dispute.
Iran signaled it will keep linking Hormuz security to its broader conflict with Washington, saying powers that used the passage against Iran must be held accountable.
Beyond oil, how could Iran's 'toll booth' at the Strait of Hormuz spark a global food and manufacturing crisis?
Why are America's closest allies refusing to join a military effort to reopen the world's most critical oil artery?
As US threats shatter its neutrality, is Oman’s historic role as the Gulf’s indispensable peacemaker now over?
Strait of Hormuz Crisis 2026: U.S.-Iran Standoff, Omani Sanctions Threat, and the Global Impact of a 95% Shipping Collapse
Overview
In late May 2026, the Middle East faced a renewed crisis as the U.S. and Iran accused each other of breaking a fragile truce, leading to an exchange of fire and the most serious breach since the April ceasefire. This escalation followed U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran three months earlier, which prompted Iran to nearly halt commercial traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. As a result, international shipping was crippled and energy prices soared. The crisis highlights how military actions and diplomatic breakdowns can quickly disrupt global trade and energy markets, with the Strait of Hormuz at the center of these tensions.