President Trump’s renewed anger toward Oman is being fueled by growing concern inside his administration over whether the Gulf nation is helping advance U.S. negotiations with Iran — or instead helping Tehran secure a more favorable outcome, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Oman has been holding talks with Iran aimed at allowing more commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, and some U.S. officials believe those negotiations have been making progress and could help ease pressure on global energy markets. But others inside the administration have grown suspicious that Muscat could also be helping Iran negotiate a nuclear agreement on terms more favorable to Tehran.

That disagreement has placed Oman at the center of growing White House frustration as efforts to reach a broader agreement with Iran remain stalled. Some officials believe Oman’s longstanding relationship with Tehran makes it uniquely positioned to serve as an intermediary and say it remains an important part of efforts to reopen the Strait.

Others, however, believe Trump is increasingly blaming Oman for the failure to finalize a nuclear deal. Those officials view the president’s threats against Muscat as an expression of frustration over the lack of progress rather than evidence that Oman has definitively blocked an agreement.

There are also concerns within the administration that an arrangement between Oman and Iran over commercial shipping could ultimately strengthen Tehran’s control over the Strait. The Trump administration has previously warned Oman over intelligence assessments that it planned with Iran to impose tolls on vessels crossing the strategic waterway, allegations Oman repeatedly denied.

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