Trump eyeing Iran blockade lasting 'months if needed': White House official

The United States could extend its naval blockade of Iran for months more, oil executives were told in a meeting with President Donald Trump, a White House official said Wednesday.

Participants at a White House meeting, which took place on Tuesday and was first reported by Axios, discussed “the steps President Trump has taken to alleviate global oil markets and steps we could take to continue the current blockade for months if needed and minimise impact on American consumers,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“The President meets with energy executives frequently to get their feedback on domestic and international energy markets,” the official said, listing topics discussed as including “domestic production, progress in Venezuela, oil futures, natural gas, and shipping.”

Also read: Trump urges Iran to sign a deal after report suggests US may extend blockade

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was host of the meeting, the official said, adding that Vice President JD Vance and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles also joined.

Trump, speaking to Axios, said the “blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombing.”

“They are choking like a stuffed pig. And it is going to be worse for them. They can’t have a nuclear weapon,” he told the digital news outlet.

Trump rejected an Iranian proposal to first open the Strait of Hormuz and lift the blockade, while postponing nuclear talks to a later stage, according to an Axios report.

He told Axios he’s going to keep Iran under a naval blockade until the regime agrees to a deal that addresses US concerns about its nuclear programme.

US oil giant Chevron confirmed to AFP that its CEO, Mike Wirth, participated in the Tuesday meeting.

Global crude prices soared on Wednesday following media reports that Trump was considering an extended blockade of Iran, with Brent jumping above $119 a barrel to its highest level since 2022 and US benchmark WTI above $105.