Trump Convenes White House Situation Room Meeting as Gulf Crisis Intensifies
President Trump convened an emergency meeting in the White House Situation Room on the afternoon of April 18, 2026, to address the IRGC's new blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Attendees included Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Rubio, and Defense Secretary Hegseth. The administration discussed potential military responses to Iranian threats against commercial shipping and the enforcement of the U.S. counter-blockade. Trump stated that 'Iran cannot blackmail the US with the Strait of Hormuz.'
Date: April 18, 2026
Location: United States
Conflict: US-Iran Conflict
Category: diplomacy
Severity: CRITICAL
Source: The Guardian