US threatens to bomb Oman and announces sweeping new Iran sanctions
The US Treasury Secretary calls it 'the greatest coordinated economic isolation in history' as President Trump issues threats to allies and the war with Iran drags on.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The United States has announced a new round of sanctions aimed at isolating Iran, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent describing it as "the greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world". The move comes as President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb a key US ally, Oman, for negotiating with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz.
The war between the US and Iran, which began in February, has reached a stalemate. A 60-day ceasefire deal signed in June has all but collapsed, with both sides accusing each other of violations. The deadline passed with no progress towards a broader peace agreement.
In a phone call with Fox News, President Trump threatened to "bomb the S out of" Oman if the Gulf country got in the way of Washington's efforts to strike a peace deal with Iran. Oman, a US ally, has been trying to broker a separate deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping channel that has been largely closed since the war began. Speaking at the White House later, Trump said of Oman: "I don't think they'd behave very well, but we'd handle them very easily, just like we do others."
The new sanctions, announced by Mr Bessent, are designed to force US allies and China to choose sides. "You are either with us or against us," Mr Bessent told CNBC. He said the Treasury would target any entity that does business with Iran, including transferring money, buying oil, or conducting seaborne ship transfers. President Trump called the measures "the most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country".
Iran's foreign minister dismissed the sanctions as a diversion from America's own economic problems, which include record debt and surging interest costs. Experts say Iran is already one of the most heavily sanctioned countries on earth, making it unclear how much more pressure these new measures can apply. The real target appears to be China, which buys over 80% of Iran's oil exports. However, China has already signalled it will not bow to US pressure.
The economic impact of the war is being felt globally. Oil prices have risen, Brent crude reaching around $90 a barrel. Bond yields have spiked in the US, Europe, and the UK, raising borrowing costs for governments and households. In Iran, the economy is in deep crisis: inflation is running at over 300%, the currency has hit record lows, and ordinary Iranians describe a life of limbo and uncertainty. Some told Channel 4 News they have sold personal belongings just to get by, and that public executions of protesters have deepened fear and anger.
President Trump's frustration is also being directed at other allies. He has threatened to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea after it refused to support US military operations against Iran. In Gaza, Trump's peace plan has been rejected by Israel, and his envoy Jared Kushner's latest visit yielded no breakthrough. With midterm elections just 78 days away, the president faces growing domestic pressure over a conflict he promised to end quickly.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News | BBC One | BBC Two | Channel 4 | ITV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A 60-day diplomatic window for the US and Iran to negotiate an end to their war expires on Monday. | · | ||||
| President Trump threatened to bomb Oman if it obstructed a US peace deal with Iran. | · | ||||
| The Iran deal is dead, with both sides saying so. | · | · | |||
| The US Treasury Secretary aims to make Iran more economically isolated than any country in history. | · | · | |||
| Trump announced new economic measures against Iran and any country helping or doing business with it. | · | · | |||
| Trump suggested declaring the Strait of Hormuz a US territory. | · | · | |||
| China purchases more than 80% of Iran's oil exports. | · | · | · | ||
| Oman is negotiating with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. | · | · | · | ||
| The UAE ceased all trade with Iran after being targeted by ballistic missiles. | · | · | · | ||
| Trump initially promised the war would be over in four, five, or six weeks. | · | · | · | ||
| Trump is frustrated by the lack of progress towards a deal with Iran. | · | · | · | ||
| Trump said he was not in a hurry to reach a deal and was not concerned about midterm elections, but the issue is causing him problems with voters. | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Focused on President Trump's threat to bomb Oman and his frustration over the lack of progress in the Iran war. Provided analysis from Sarah Smith and Jeremy Bowen on the strategic deadlock and Trump's limited options. Did not cover the new sanctions announcement in detail.
- “They're not gonna make the kind of a deal that I feel is necessary. Look, we're in there for one reason Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. You understand that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and they won't have a nuclear weapon.”
- “he claimed that he wasn't in any hurry to get a deal with Iran and that he's not concerned about the Possible impact the war could have on the American midterm elections”
- “I think one explanation for these comments could be his Frustration at the way he cannot seem to get out of this conflict with Iran that he chose to start almost six months ago”
Led with the new sanctions announcement, giving extensive coverage to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's 'economic D-day' language and the ultimatum to allies and China. Included expert analysis on the limited room for further sanctions and the targeting of China. Also reported Trump's threat to Oman but focused more on the economic strategy.
- “This is going to be the greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world and we are going to them and saying you are either with us or against us.”
- “So in terms of economic coercion, there is not much of a room left for the United States to directly aim for Iran. So I doubt that the current strategy or what the United States is preparing is simply imposing more sanctions on Iran itself.”
- “Announcing the sanctions on Tuesday, President Trump called them quote the most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country.”
Highlighted President Trump's explosive threat to bomb Oman with crude language, framing the war as a 'battle of wills and economic endurance'. Emphasized the frustration of the White House and the domestic political implications for the midterms. Also covered the Gaza peace talks and Israel's rejection of Trump's plan.
- “if Oman was to do a deal with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, they would bomb the S out of them.”
- “This war, Mary, has basically morphed from a military conflict into a battle of wills and economic endurance.”
- “Donald Trump also said that he was in no hurry to do a deal and that the midterms were not factoring into his thinking. But people here might not feel the same if the United States is still marred in a conflict in the Middle East when they go to the polls here in a few months time.”
Broadened the story to include Trump's threats to South Korea and the economic consequences of the war, such as rising oil prices and global bond yields. Also gave a human perspective through anonymous interviews with Iranians describing economic suffering and political repression. Used analysis from a former US diplomat and US editor Anushka Asthana.
- “Donald Trump basically said to this Fox News reporter that he is prepared to bomb the S out of Oman.”
- “Every now and then we see positive signals. Then two days later, suddenly the war starts again in a limited scale somewhere. And this has created a very strange atmosphere, when you can neither feel hopeful about the future, nor completely give up hope.”
- “I think the people of Iran have been humiliated for years, in one way or another. Everything keeps getting worse, everything keeps getting uglier.”
Framed the sanctions as an 'economic D-day' and explored whether Trump is running out of military options. Featured a conversation with Chris Ruddy, a friend of Trump, who argued the president could still escalate. Focused on the strategic deadlock and the challenges of pressuring China. Included Trump's own remarks from Air Force One.
- “This is going to be the greatest coordinated economic isolation in the history of the world.”
- “This means that we're seeing what happens they have no money They have no Navy they have no Air Force They are not paying their soldiers. They're not paying their police. They have three hundred and fifty percent inflation”
- “I don't think he feels that he's out of options as Gabriel suggested I don't think he thinks that we're out of resources to deal or that Ultimately, we could not compel the Iranians to stop their nuclear program and open the straight”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.