US President Donald Trump on Wednesday told a cabinet meeting that the United States would attack Oman if they interfere in the Strait of Hormuz.
"Oman will behave like everybody else, or we’ll have to blow them up," said Trump. "They understand that."
In addition, Trump said that Iran very much wanted to make a deal, but the United States was not yet satisfied with it. "Iran is very much intent; they want very much to make a deal. So far, they haven't gotten there... we're not satisfied with it, but we will be. We will be either that or we'll have to just finish the job."
Trump added that the Strait of Hormuz will remain open to all and will not be controlled by any country under any deal reached with Iran. "We'll watch over it, but nobody's going to control it. That's part of the negotiation that we have."
Trump further emphasized that he does not want China or Russia to take Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium.
At the meeting, Trump reiterated that the US was not talking about easing sanctions on Iran.
He told PBS in an interview earlier on Wednesday that Iran would not get sanctions relief in exchange for giving up highly enriched uranium.
Trump: Deal must be 'perfect'
Trump stressed that the Hormuz would open "immediately" under the deal's current framework, adding that the deal must be "perfect."
He also noted that the US and Iran had reached certain understandings, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying at the meeting that there has been some progress in negotiations with Iran toward a deal.
"I think there's been some progress and some interest, and we'll see over the next few hours and days whether progress could be made," said Rubio.
Also on Wednesday, Iranian state broadcaster IRIB said that Tehran had obtained a draft of an initial, unofficial framework for a memorandum of understanding with the US to end the war, a claim the White House called a "complete fabrication."