Nournews: On August 17, in an interview with Fox News, Donald Trump threatened Oman with U.S. bombing if it “gets in the way” of an agreement, in response to a question about Iran-Oman talks over arrangements for transit through and management of the Strait of Hormuz. The threat came as Tehran and Muscat, after weeks of negotiations over a framework for the passage of vessels through Hormuz, had reached an initial understanding and were finalizing a joint statement.

An informed Emirati source told Nournews that behind Trump’s tough stance was direct coordination between Abu Dhabi and Washington.

According to the source, Mohammed bin Zayed had spoken by phone with the U.S. president several hours before Trump’s remarks.

What Was Discussed in the bin Zayed-Trump Call?

One adviser to the White House communications director who was briefed on the call said bin Zayed’s conversation with Trump lasted 23 minutes. During the middle of the call, he reportedly stood up and shouted: “The Omanis still haven’t figured out that it’s been two years since sleepy Joe Biden and his bunch of idiots were throwing America’s interests away.”

He added that several hours later, Witkoff admitted in a conversation with one of his advisers that bin Zayed’s remarks had angered Trump at the Omanis. According to the Witkoff adviser, bin Zayed had suggested to Trump that the reason for Iran’s tough stance over the Strait of Hormuz was Oman’s “greed”—that Muscat was seeking, in collusion with Iran, to elevate itself to the level of a rival to the UAE.

Trump is also said to have adopted a threatening tone toward Oman on May 27 after receiving a call from a senior Emirati official.

June 17 Manama Meeting: “Another Oman” in the Region

This account should be considered alongside the events surrounding the June 17 meeting in Manama, held one day before the signing of the Iran-U.S. memorandum of understanding. According to informed Bahraini sources, Mohammed bin Zayed, CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper, and a senior Mossad adviser attended the meeting, while Marco Rubio participated online.

The main issue was concern over the consolidation of the Iran-U.S. understanding and its implications for the security arrangements surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. Activating a “southern route” by pressuring Oman and using CENTCOM’s military capabilities was also discussed.

But the most sensitive part of the meeting was bin Zayed’s position on Omani and Qatari mediation. Bahraini sources say he described Qatar’s involvement in the mediation process as “sheer stupidity” and warned Witkoff: “Be careful not to create another Oman in the region.”

These remarks indicate that Abu Dhabi’s concern over Oman’s growing role in regional affairs and the Strait of Hormuz predates Trump’s threat.

The Wall Street Journal Corroboration

The account also appears to be consistent with a report by the Wall Street Journal. On August 2, the newspaper reported that while Saudi Arabia was urging Trump to exercise restraint and avoid escalating the confrontation with Iran, the UAE was calling for “more decisive action” by the United States against Iran.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Emirati officials had even raised options including U.S. control of the Strait of Hormuz and the possibility of ground operations.

From this perspective, Hormuz is not simply a question of whether a waterway remains open or closed. The central question is: once the Strait of Hormuz is reopened, who will set the rules of the game?

For Oman, Hormuz is not only geographically significant; it is also central to the country’s role as a mediator between Iran and the West. For the UAE, meanwhile, an expanded Omani role could mean a shift in the balance of influence in the Persian Gulf.

Abu Dhabi’s Ambitions and Its Growing Rift with Arab States

The UAE’s alleged efforts to undermine and spread negative narratives about other Persian Gulf Arab states have reportedly caused serious resentment in Oman, Qatar, and even Saudi Arabia. At internal meetings of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League, the UAE is reportedly referred to as an Israeli proxy.

Sources close to the GCC and the Arab League say Emirati diplomats have increasingly complained about what they view as inappropriate treatment by other Arab countries.

At one meeting of Emirati ministers, Anwar Gargash reportedly said: “Saudi diplomats treat us like lepers. They keep their distance from us and think they are superior to us, even though we know this behavior stems from jealousy.”

Against this backdrop, Trump’s threat against Oman can be viewed within the broader context of Abu Dhabi’s ambitions to expand its influence over the Persian Gulf’s security and maritime arrangements and its efforts to constrain the role of countries such as Oman and Qatar—a process that, if the sources’ information is accurate, has been accompanied by growing coordination and alignment between Abu Dhabi, Washington, and Tel Aviv.

In this context, Hormuz is more than just a strategic strait. It is an arena in which Abu Dhabi is seeking a greater share of the regional power equation by applying pressure on Iran, weakening the role of regional mediators, and moving closer to the United States and Israel.