Fox's Peter Doocy Presses Scott Bessent on Whether Trump Will Strike Oman: Making Plans For a New War?'

President Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to everyone as international waters and that Oman must behave like other countries or face military action. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent responded that the president aimed to emphasize freedom of navigation. Bessent said he spoke with the Omani ambassador and was told there were no plans to toll the strait. Bessent characterized the idea as a nonstarter and said the U.S. would not risk harming Omani individuals or financial institutions through sanctions. On X, Bessent stated the U.S. Treasury will aggressively target any actors facilitating tolls and will penalize willing partners.

"No, the strait's gotta be open to everybody it's international waters. Nobody's gonna control it, Trump said, adding, And Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we'll have to blow 'em up. They understand that. They'll be fine."

"Doocy asked Bessent, Trump said Oman has to behave like everybody else or we'll blow them up. Are you guys back there in the West Wing making plans for a new war with Oman? I think the president wanted to punctuate freedom of navigation in the strait, Bessent said. I had a call with the Omani ambassador this morning, and he assured me that there were no plans for tolling the strait."

"As he said, our countries have 200 years of good relations. He wants to have another 200 more. And I told him that this was a nonstarter, and he did not want to risk either the Omani individuals or Omani financial institutions getting sanctioned. On X Thursday, Bessent wrote, The United States Government will not tolerate any effort to impose a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz."

"Oman, in particular, should know that the U.S. Treasury will aggressively target any actors involved directly or indirectly in facilitating tolls for the Strait and any willing partners will be penalized, Bessent added."

Read at www.mediaite.com