Escalation in the Strait of Hormuz and new US threats against Iran and Oman

Tensions in the Persian Gulf have intensified as the United States, led by President Donald Trump, maintains a naval blockade of Iranian ports in retaliation for the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that Washington is preparing "unprecedented" economic measures to be unveiled next week, aiming to force Tehran into submission. Meanwhile, President Trump has threatened to declare the strait US territory once Iran is defeated and warned Oman of potential military strikes if the country interferes with American maritime efforts.

Diplomatic efforts remain deadlocked following the expiration of a 60-day interim agreement on Monday. Iran, which has been negotiating a navigation plan with Oman to resolve shipping issues, dismissed Trump’s rhetoric as "nonsense" and declared that the strait remains firmly under its control. A senior Iranian official warned Reuters that Tehran would launch a precise military attack to break the US blockade if Washington does not fully comply with the terms of the June agreement within a few weeks. The US defense and economic departments continue to emphasize their capacity to enforce the blockade indefinitely, despite concerns regarding the potential impact on global oil supplies and the US economy.