Trump’s inner circle rushes to emergency Situation Room briefing as Iran chokes off the world’s oil supply and tankers hit by gunfire
Donald Trump held an emergency room meeting with his inner circle on Saturday to discuss the unstable situation in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report.
The meeting came after Iranian warships opened fire on cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz early on Saturday, after Tehran tightened its control over the key waterway.
The attacks came shortly after the regime abruptly reversed its decision to reopen the strait, citing an American statement that the United States would not end its blockade of Iranian ports.
The President met with Vice President J.D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, among others. axios it was reported, citing two US officials.
It was reported that White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Ambassador Steve Witkoff, CIA Director John Ratliffe and Chief of Staff Dan Caine also attended.
US officials said the meeting took place amid reports that US troops were preparing to attack Iranian-backed ships “within days”. Wall StreetJournal.
The US naval blockade of Iranian ports has already caused the return of 23 ships, increasing economic pressure on Tehran.
A White House spokesman told the WSJ that US officials believe the blockade will facilitate a peace agreement. However, this situation angered Iranian officials, who continued to blockade the Strait of Hormuz despite the President announcing yesterday that the strait was open.
The narrow waterway facilitates the transportation of 20 percent of the world’s oil, which has risen to nearly $100 a barrel due to Iran’s current blockade.
It dropped slightly following reports that the strait had reopened. It is unclear how much oil prices will be affected by the reopening of the strait.
President Donald Trump and his inner circle entered the emergency room on Saturday to discuss ongoing tensions with Iran as a ceasefire agreement is set to expire
The two countries are arguing over the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran closed again a day after opening it. On Saturday, two Indian ships heading towards the Bosphorus were fired upon.
The reports emerged in the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran that is scheduled to end in three days.
If a permanent agreement is not reached, the war will begin again and Trump has warned he could ‘start dropping bombs again’.
On Saturday, the 79-year-old told the press that Iran “cannot blackmail” the United States.
“They wanted to close the Bosphorus again, as they have done for years, but they cannot blackmail us,” Trump said.
He insisted that his officials had “very good talks” with Tehran. ‘We are talking to them.
‘It’s going very well. “They’ve become a little cute, as they have for 47 years,” he added, warning that he would continue to take a “tough stance” against Iranian leaders.
Trump claimed that talks between the US and Iran were ‘going very well’ despite the issue of Iran opening and closing the Bosphorus and threatening ships entering the oil-rich region.
At least two Indian ships were hit by Iranian fire as they tried to pass through the narrow waterway on Saturday.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said the Middle Eastern country was reviewing new proposals from the United States, but no decision had been made.
Trump stated that he doubted that an agreement could be reached by the end of the day and told reporters: ‘We will have some information by the end of the day.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio (pictured in March) were also at Saturday’s emergency meeting
The regime abruptly reversed its decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz (pictured), citing an American statement that the US would not end its blockade of Iranian ports.
‘We are talking to them. We take a tough stance. They killed many people. ‘Many of our people were killed.’
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.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the White House for comment.
Mohammed Bagir Galibaf, who headed the Iranian delegation on Saturday, said that any intervention in the Bosphorus, including mine clearance, would be considered as breaking the ceasefire. New York Times reported.
Iran also reiterated that it wants the United States to lift the blockade in the Bosphorus.
‘Americans have declared a blockade in recent days; “This is a reckless and misguided decision,” Ghalibaf said.
‘It is not possible for others to pass through the Strait of Hormuz even though we cannot pass through it. If the USA does not lift the blockade, passage through the Strait of Hormuz will definitely be restricted.’
Boats anchored in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran says any boat moving towards the Bosphorus will be considered as ‘cooperating with the enemy’ and will be targeted
Iran says the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by the United States violates the ceasefire agreement.
It was also warned that any ship moving towards the Bosphorus would be considered as ‘cooperating with the enemy’ and would be targeted.
Iran closed the oil-rich waterway just a day after reopening it due to a blockade.
