Trump meets oil executives on months-long Iran blockade; warns Tehran to ‘get smart soon’

Wednesday, April 29, 2026Developing

Politics Desk

What we know

President Donald Trump met oil and gas executives Tuesday and discussed steps to continue the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports "for months if needed" while limiting the hit to American consumers, a White House official told ABC, NBC and Reuters on Wednesday as crude jumped to multi-year highs on fears of longer Hormuz disruption. Trump separately posted that Iran "couldn't get its act together" and "better get smart soon" on a non-nuclear deal, while an Iranian security source warned the blockade would meet "practical and unprecedented action," Al Jazeera and Reuters reported.

Pakistan mediators were still shuttling observations on Tehran's latest proposal that would reopen Hormuz and lift the port siege before settling nuclear limits — a sequencing Washington has resisted. Axios later published a Wednesday interview in which Trump framed the blockade as leverage ahead of any kinetic options CENTCOM has prepared, leaving diplomacy and military briefings in flux into Thursday.

What's confirmed

ABC/NBC: White House confirmed Trump, Vance and Bessent met energy executives Tuesday on sustaining the blockade for months and shielding U.S. consumers as prices surged (ABC, NBC).
Reuters: Trump urged Iran to "get smart soon"; a State cable pressed partners on a Hormuz navigation coalition as oil hit four-year highs (Reuters).
Al Jazeera: Tehran threatened "practical and unprecedented action" against continued blockading while insisting ports must reopen before nuclear talks resume (Al Jazeera).
Axios: In a Wednesday phone interview Trump said the blockade is "somewhat more effective than the bombing" and Iran "can't have a nuclear weapon" (Axios).

What's still developing

Whether Thursday's planned strike briefing produces new kinetic orders or stays on blockade-first pressure.
How many allies join any U.S.-led Hormuz navigation effort versus separate UK-French maritime talks.
Iran's end-of-week reply through Pakistani mediators to Washington's observations on the latest proposal.

Sources

ABC — Trump met with oil and gas executives as Iran war drags on, prices surge link
NBC — Trump warns Iran ‘better get smart soon’ as he weighs military options over Strait of Hormuz link
Reuters — Trump met with oil firms on possible months-long extension of Iran blockade link
Reuters — US seeks international help to reopen Strait of Hormuz as crude prices surge link
Al Jazeera — Trump vows to maintain Iran blockade, Tehran threatens ‘practical’ action link
Axios — Trump rejects Iran’s offer, says blockade stays until nuclear deal link