Amid continuing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States would bomb Oman if it interfered with U.S. activities in the region.
Trump said secret communication channels exist with officials from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Claiming that only a small portion of U.S.-owned munitions had been used in Iran, Trump asserted that Tehran possessed many weapons of intermediate capability.
Trump also said that former U.S. President Joe Biden had provided advanced weapons systems to Ukraine.
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz after the Iran-U.S. agreement
Iran and the United States reached an agreement on June 14 through Pakistani mediation. Under the initial arrangement, the United States would release Iran's frozen assets; in return, the Strait of Hormuz would be opened and Iran would not charge fees for 60 days on vessels passing through the strategic waterway.
However, the United States did not release Iran's frozen assets after the agreement and established an alternative route through Omani territorial waters for Strait of Hormuz crossings. Iran considered these steps a violation of the agreement.
Iran restricted passage through the strait and struck some vessels attempting to pass without authorization. Tensions between the two countries around the Strait of Hormuz turned into clashes on July 8, and the fighting lasted approximately two weeks.
Iran resumed talks with Oman, which borders the Strait of Hormuz, to establish safe passage routes for vessels.
Trump comments on Iran, Israel and Gaza
Trump said the Tehran government must surrender before the agreement reached with Iran expires. Claiming that the U.S. naval blockade of Iran was creating economic pressure, Trump said he was in no hurry, asserting that Iran was bluffing on the issue.
Commenting on the elections scheduled to take place in Israel in October, Trump said staying out of the elections was the most appropriate option, although he could support one of the candidates.
Trump said the United States was communicating with Hamas through different channels and that Hamas would disarm. He also said Israel should not launch attacks on Gaza.
In another statement about Iran, Trump said the top priority was to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons under any circumstances.
