President Donald Trump called top advisers into the White House Situation Room on Saturday as fresh trouble broke out in the Strait of Hormuz.
The narrow waterway, which carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil, faced new threats after Iran said it would again restrict shipping. The move came in response to the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, officials said.
On April 18, Axios reported that Trump met with Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, envoy Steve Witkoff, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine also joined the session, according to reports citing U.S. officials.
The gathering happened hours after Iran announced it would limit passage through the strait unless the U.S. lifted its blockade. At least two Indian vessels came under fire while trying to move through the area on Saturday.
The emergency meeting happened with a countdown clock because the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is set to end in three days.
Trump’s clear stance
Trump has made it clear that he is ready to order new strikes if a lasting agreement is not reached.
Trump told reporters Saturday that Iran cannot “blackmail” the United States. He said talks with Tehran are going well, but warned that military options stay on the table. “They’ve killed a lot of people,” he added. “A lot of our people have been killed.”
The U.S. began its naval blockade of Iranian ports earlier this month after earlier talks stalled. Officials say the pressure is meant to push Iran toward a final peace deal. So far, 23 ships have turned back because of the restrictions.
Iran views the blockade as a breach of the ceasefire. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who heads the Iranian delegation, said any U.S. interference, including efforts to clear mines, would violate the truce.
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He warned that ships trying to pass while Iran cannot would be treated as aiding the enemy and could be targeted.
The strait reopened briefly on Friday after Iran announced it would allow commercial traffic during the ceasefire period.
But within a day, Tehran reversed course and reimposed limits. Iranian officials insist the waterway cannot stay open if their own ports remain blocked.
U.S. officials believe the blockade gives them leverage. A White House spokesperson told reporters the pressure should help bring about a deal.
Yet the back-and-forth has rattled energy markets and raised fears of wider economic fallout.
Trump said Saturday he anticipates more information by the end of the day and is still deciding whether to extend the truce.
He reiterated that he will not allow Iran to impose conditions through threats against shipping.
The Situation Room session lasted several hours, as per the reports, but no official readout was released immediately afterward. Trump later left the White House to play golf, according to pool reports.
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The crisis marks the latest flare-up in months of tension. On February 28 this year, U.S. forces and Israeli Defense Forces carried out strikes inside Iran, which mostly targeted military assets of the leadership. Tehran responded with attacks on shipping and American bases in the Middle East, as well as strikes against Israel.
Thirteen U.S. service members have died in the conflict so far.
At home, the renewed trouble in the Strait has put fresh focus on the administration’s strategy.
For now, the White House insists it is pursuing both pressure and talks. Trump has said that a deal could still happen quickly if Iran stops making demands and threatening ships.
The Supreme National Security Council of Iran, on the other hand, said it is looking over new U.S. proposals but hasn’t made a final decision yet.
