Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas, right, reaches for President Donald Trump following an executive order signing in the Oval Office of the White House. (Photo: AP) US President Donald Trump held a meeting in the White House Situation Room on Saturday to discuss the situation around the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing talks with Iran, according to Axios.
Officials said the meeting came as tensions rise and a ceasefire is due to expire in the coming days, with no date set for the next round of talks.
Talks uncertain as tensions rise
The meeting was attended by senior officials including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
A US official said the situation is at a key point, warning that if there is no progress soon, fighting could resume.
Iran had earlier said it would again close the waterway and reports of attacks on vessels followed. This came a day after Trump said a deal could be reached quickly.
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Trump says US still in talks
Speaking to reporters, Trump said Iran was trying to pressure the United States.
“Iran got a little cute… they wanted to close up the Strait again,” he said, as quoted by Axios.
“They can’t blackmail us,” he added.
Trump said talks with Iran are still ongoing and a decision on whether a deal will move forward could come soon.
Separately, Reuters has reported that contacts between the two sides have continued through different channels, even as tensions remain high in the region.
