Strait of Hormuz - May 22, 2026 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland/Israel Media/Al-Arabiya/Persian language TV Stations outside Iran. Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International/Radio Farda)
1. Various of cargo ships at sea

FILE: Washington D.C., USA - Oct 2024 (CCTV Video News Agency - No access Chinese mainland)
2. Various of White House

FILE: Muscat, Oman - Feb 23, 2025 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
3. Oman's Foreign Ministry building, national flag of Oman

FILE: Muscat, Oman - Date Unknown (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
4. Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

FILE: Tehran, Iran - Jan 25, 2026 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland/Israel Media/Al-Arabiya/Persian language TV Stations outside Iran. Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International/Radio Farda)
5. Iranian Foreign Ministry building exterior

FILE: Tehran, Iran - Jan 14, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland/Israel Media/Al-Arabiya/Persian language TV Stations outside Iran. Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International/Radio Farda)
6. Various of interior of Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, sign

FILE: Tehran, Iran - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland/Israel Media/Al-Arabiya/Persian language TV Stations outside Iran. Strictly No Access BBC Persian/VOA Persian/Manoto TV/Iran International/Radio Farda)
7. Various of national flags of Iran

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Thursday that Oman had assured the U.S. not to toll the Strait of Hormuz after U.S. President Donald Trump warned it not to interfere as fragile talks with Iran continue.

Iranian media reported on Wednesday that Iran and Oman were in consultation on a new mechanism for ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

In response, Trump told reporters during a cabinet meeting at the White House that "the strait's going to be open to everybody."

"It's international waters. Nobody's going to control it. We're going to watch over it. We'll watch over it, but nobody's going to control it," he said, adding that it is part of the negotiation that is there.

"Oman will behave just like everybody else or we'll have to blow 'em up," Trump warned.

Bessent told reporters on Thursday that Trump just wanted to emphasize the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Bessent stated he had held a call earlier Thursday with the Omani ambassador to the United States, who had assured that there were no plans for tolling the strait.

Bessent also warned on Thursday that the U.S. would impose sanctions against Oman if it helped Iran to establish a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Thursday released a statement to condemn the threats by the U.S. against Oman.