WASHINGTON (AFP) — President Donald Trump threatened Monday to bomb Oman if it “gets in the way” of a US deal with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, as he called on Tehran to surrender in the nearly six-month war.

“If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the shit out of them,” Trump told Fox News journalist Trey Yingst, referring to talks between Oman and Iran over control of the strait.

Oman, a US ally in the Gulf, has not publicly commented on Trump’s remarks.

The Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed since the conflict began 28 February, is a key point of contention between Tehran and Washington. The waterway carried roughly a fifth of global oil supplies before the war.

Iran and Oman have been discussing navigation arrangements through the strait, with Iran’s Foreign Ministry saying Monday that the two sides were working on a joint declaration.

Trump also said Iran should “put up the white flag of surrender,” according to Yingst’s account of the interview on X.

Trump has repeatedly claimed the strait is under US control. On Friday, he said he would declare it US territory, prompting Iran to say the waterway “will remain Iranian.”

The dispute has contributed to higher fuel prices and growing political pressure on Trump ahead of the November midterm elections.

Trump said he was not in a hurry to reach a deal with Iran, adding that his administration maintained a back channel with officials of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

“They’re good poker players, but they’re dying,” he was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Trump to pursue diplomacy during a phone call, according to Turkish state news agency Anadolu.