US President Donald Trump has again threatened to bomb Oman if it obstructs efforts to end the US-Israel war against Iran, according to the report. The threat was made Monday during an interview with Fox News, as Oman held discussions with Iran on reopening the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has repeatedly said it will not hold direct talks with Washington over the strait.

The report said the warning came as Tehran and Muscat were nearing an agreement and a 60-day memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran had expired. The memorandum had allocated time for peace negotiations, but those talks collapsed at the outset and renewal is considered unlikely. Trump said Iran should surrender and stated that Oman would be bombed and destroyed if it stood in the way.

Oman is a US ally and has maintained neutrality in the Iran-US conflict, despite suffering multiple Iranian attacks. Trump also threatened Oman in May, saying it should not control the waterway with Iran. Analysts cited by Al Jazeera said a possible Iran-Oman arrangement could conflict with Washington's demand that Iran relinquish control of the strait and could formalize Iran's position while excluding the United States.