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President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Oman - a US ally - if it "gets in the way" of his administration's talks with Iran.
The US and Oman have been negotiating separately with Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that is vital to the global economy. It has been largely closed for nearly six months during the US-Iran war.
The US president made the threat to Oman while using an expletive during a phone interview.
Earlier in the day, Iranian officials said they were close to finalising a deal with Oman. Meanwhile, the future of talks between the US and Iran is unclear as a 60-day Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two sides is expiring.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump was asked by BBC News if he was seeking an extension to the MoU, to which he replied: "No."
Since the US and Israel attacked Iran in February, Tehran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz - through which about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas usually passes.
Oman borders the southern side of the Strait and says it is a neutral country in this conflict. However it has suffered attacks strikes from Iran and is now playing a leading role in negotiating with Tehran to reopen the waterway.
Washington has pursued its own efforts to secure the reopening. Fox reporter Trey Yingst quoted Trump as saying: "If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the shit out of them."
Jane Hill presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Sarah Smith and Jeremy Bowen.
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