President Donald Trump has threatened that the United States “would have to blow up” Oman should the country partner with Iran on the control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Mr Trump made the remarks at a White House Cabinet meeting on Wednesday when asked whether the U.S. would accept a deal allowing Oman and Iran to oversee the critical route for global crude oil shipments.

“Nobody is going to control it,” Mr Trump told reporters. “It’s international waters. We’ll watch over it. Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we will have to blow them up. They understand that; they’ll be fine.”

Global oil supply has been disrupted since the launch of Operation Epic Fury amid Iran’s closure of the strait.

The oil shipment route has been a cynosure of all eyes since the U.S. and Iran commenced negotiations to end the war following an April 8 ceasefire. Among other proposals, Tehran demanded absolute control of the strait.

Iran closed the strait again on April 18, less than 24 hours after reopening it, citing the U.S.’s continued blockade of its ports.

Oman, an ally of the U.S., with security, economic, and technological ties spanning more than 200 years, served as a key mediator in the Iran war.

The U.S. president’s comments followed a report by Iran’s state media on a framework for a memorandum of understanding between Iran and Oman. According to the report, the draft framework would see Tehran and Oman manage the strait.

The U.S. government dismissed the report as “a complete fabrication”.

Mr Trump maintained during the White House meeting that Arab countries like Qatar and Saudi Arabia have diplomatic relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords as part of any ceasefire deal between the U.S. and Iran.

The president recently warned that the U.S. could withdraw from negotiations if more Arab countries failed to join accords.

“ I think they owe that to us, to be honest,” Mr Trump said. “I’m not sure we should make the deal if they don’t sign, if you want to know the truth.”