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Trump's Oman outburst throws 'Switzerland of the Middle East' into the spotlight
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Trump's Oman outburst throws 'Switzerland of the Middle East' into the spotlight

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A man views the Rasool al-Adham mosque from the corniche at Sultan Qaboos port in Oman's capital Muscat on February 5, 2026. Loic Venance | Afp | Getty Images The Trump administration's threats against Oman, a longtime U.S. ally, have thrown a country known for cultivating a reputation as the "Switzerland of the Middle East" firmly into the geopolitical spotlight. Positioned on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula and facing Iran across the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, Oman has served as a key intermediary in regional crises, including the U.S. and Israeli-led war against Iran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday warned the U.S. would "aggressively" impose sanctions against Oman if it helped Iran to establish a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that typically handles around 20% of the world's global oil traffic. "Oman, in particular, should know that the U.S.…

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