President Trump convened an emergency meeting with senior national security advisers after Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supply.
Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage carrying nearly 20 percent of the world’s oil.
Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined military and intelligence leaders to weigh a military response against a diplomatic resolution. The debate has exposed sharp divisions within the administration.
The blockade has forced 23 ships to turn back, pushing oil prices close to $100 a barrel and affecting economies across Asia and Africa.
For countries like India, where ships have come under Iranian fire, and Nigeria, where fuel prices have jumped, the crisis is not distant. It is already affecting daily life.
Inside the Situation Room, officials discussed two main choices: launching a U.S. naval strike on Iran-backed vessels to break the blockade or pursuing last-minute diplomatic channels.
Trump said America “cannot be blackmailed” but left open the possibility of a negotiated resolution.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council warned that any military interference with the Strait would immediately end the ceasefire, calling U.S. actions “reckless and misguided.” With the truce set to expire in three days, the window for a diplomatic resolution is narrowing rapidly.