Trump warns Iran ‘can’t blackmail us’ as crisis deepens in Strait of Hormuz
Donald Trump said Iran cannot ‘blackmail’ the US after the Middle Eastern country threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz again.
The president addressed the deepening crisis during a Q&A session Saturday, shortly after signing an unrelated executive order to ease access to a psychedelic drug used to treat PTSD.
Trump announced that the talks between the USA and Iran were ‘going very well’ despite the problem of Iran opening and closing the Strait and threatening ships entering the oil-rich region.
“They wanted to close the Bosphorus again, as they have done for years, but they cannot blackmail us,” Trump said.
‘We will have some information by the end of the day,’ he continued. ‘We are talking to them. We take a tough stance. They killed many people. ‘Many of our people were killed.’
This comes amid reports that Iran opened fire on ships trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz after it closed it again on Saturday.
At least two Indian merchant ships were gunned down while trying to pass through the narrow waterway, three shipping and security sources told Reuters.
The extent of the damage was not immediately clear. One of the ships was carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil.
President Trump says he can’t ‘blackmail’ US after Iran threatens to close Strait again
It comes after Iran opened fire on ships trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday.
Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said in a message published on Telegram that the Iranian navy is ready to inflict ‘new bitter defeats’ on its enemies.
The convoy began passing through the strait and quickly dispersed, with ship tracking data showing the ships dispersing, the first major movement since the start of the war.
This came after Iran moved to restart the blockade, saying the Strait of Hormuz was once again closed after the United States refused to lift what it described as a naval blockade of Tehran’s ports.
Trump warned he could ‘start dropping bombs again’ if the fragile ceasefire is broken.
The president insisted that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports would continue until a deal was reached, prompting fresh warnings that Tehran could close the route again.
Trump said on Saturday that he was still weighing whether to extend the ceasefire and warned that military intervention would remain on the table if the talks failed.
He discussed the latest situation with Iran at a news conference where he signed an executive order to expedite the use of psychedelic drugs to treat veterans’ PTSD.
The president touted attorney Joe Rogan, who he said emailed him about the treatment, and that piqued his interest.
At least two Indian merchant ships were reportedly hit by gunfire in the Bosphorus
“Today we bring them new hope,” he said as Rogan and RFK Jr. stood behind him in the Oval Office.
‘I think you’ll see a big difference and a big reduction in that number.’ [of suicides].’
Stating that the drug being studied is ibogaine, Trump announced that he will invest $50 million for research and will help accelerate the process of approving the drug by the FDA.
Ibogaine is a naturally occurring psychoactive substance derived from the root of a shrub native to Central Africa.
It has gained popularity in recent years and has attracted the attention of medical professionals and Rogan.
Trump said the study found an 80 to 90 percent reduction in depression and anxiety symptoms after one month of use.
One study found that the drug safely and effectively reduced PTSD, anxiety, and depression when combined with magnesium to protect the heart.
‘Can I have some please?’ the president joked with laughter. ‘I’ll take whatever it takes!’
He discussed Iran at a press conference attended by Joe Rogan and RFK Jr., where he signed an executive order to expedite the use of psychedelic drugs to treat veterans’ PTSD.
He later backtracked and said: ‘I don’t have time to get depressed. If you’re busy enough, maybe that could work too. That’s what I do.”
Surgeon General Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the executive order comes amid concerns that veterans are desperately traveling to Mexico and other countries for help because their medicine is not available in the United States.
Rogan also spoke at the event and said he sent the President an email about ibogaine. To which Trump reportedly responded: ‘Sounds great! Do you want FDA approval? Let’s do it.’
“It really was that fast,” Rogan said, before thanking Trump for his work in expediting the process.
