In short
The episode claims Donald Trump is “panicking” and convened an emergency Situation Room meeting over Iran’s rejection of a purported U.S.-Iran deal and Iran’s decision to close the Strait of Hormuz, with threats to shoot at tankers and reports of possible U.S. boarding/seizure of Iran-linked ships.
Guest backgrounds
No named guests are clearly identified. The episode references “Danny Citrinitz,” described as a former analyst of Iran for Israel, offering critical analysis of U.S./Israeli war plans.
Key claims
Iran says Trump is lying; Strait of Hormuz is closed; IRGC warns vessels will be targeted; two Indian tankers were shot at; U.S. may resume war if no breakthrough; Iran retains ~40% pre-war drones and ~60% missile launchers; limited strikes won’t change Iran’s red lines.
Notable examples
Channel 16 audio warning; Wall Street Journal “pacing”/lack-of-plan claim; Trump’s social media praise of Israel; quoted IRGC/IRGC Navy statements; MB Ghalibaf interview asserting Iran controls the strait and is ready for “martyrdom.”
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOTrump's Emergency Situation Room Meeting
4:00 to 5:00
A look into Trump's emergency meeting amid escalating tensions with Iran.
“The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps announced to all tankers in the Persian Gulf, if any of you come near the Strait of Hormuz exit, we will shoot at you.”
Iran's Response to Trump's Claims
5:00 to 6:00
Understand Iran's rejection of Trump's assertions regarding negotiations.
“We will open it by the order of our leader, Imam Khamenei, not by the tweets of some idiots.”
Iran's Threats and Military Posturing
6:00 to 7:00
Examine Iran's military threats regarding the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. presence.
“His chief of staff, Susie Wiles, was there.”
Analyzing Trump's Panic and Press Conference
7:00 to 8:00
Insights into Trump's behavior and messaging during the crisis.
“Now, earlier in the day, yesterday morning, Donald Trump held that bizarre press conference in the Oval Office with Joe Rogan to sign some executive order about psychedelics.”
Iran's Strong Stance on Military Control
8:00 to 9:00
Learn about Iran's declaration of control over the Strait of Hormuz.
“But Donald Trump held that weird press conference in the Oval Office yesterday with Joe Rogan to try to distract from everything.”
Analysis of U.S. Intelligence on Iran
9:00 to 10:00
Discussion on U.S. intelligence assessments of Iran's military capabilities.
“Actually, their leaders are, it is regime change.”
Consequences of U.S. Actions on Iran
10:00 to 11:00
Explore the potential repercussions of U.S. actions against Iran.
“Now, one of the things that also came out of this Situation Room emergency meeting.”
Insights from Analyst Danny Citrinitz
11:00 to 12:00
Hear critical perspectives on U.S. and Israel's approach to Iran.
“So Iran was like, OK, we're not even going to allow the Larik Corridor to stay open.”
Iran's Military Capabilities and Strategic Realism
14:02 to 18:28
Learn about Iran's current military status and the implications for U.S. policy.
“And in fact, what we learned just now, U.S.”
Transcript
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3:00Ben Meiselas:Donald Trump is panicking and convened an emergency meeting in the Situation Room with his top cabinet officials. This, as Iran is absolutely repudiating Donald Trump's claims that Iran entered into a deal to open the straight-up for moves and to basically fully surrender, Iran said, we haven't agreed to anything that Donald Trump is saying. We're sticking with our 10-point negotiating framework, and Donald Trump's just out there lying and manipulating the markets. And Iran said, we're going to now fully shut down the Strait of Hormuz. Previously, as a gesture of good faith, we were allowing some ships to go through a coordinated route that we agreed to, and now we're saying no ships can go through the Strait of Hormuz because the United States continues its naval blockade of the Persian Gulf, and Donald Trump continues to lie about our negotiating positions.
3:56Ben Meiselas:He continues to threaten us during the ceasefire period while negotiations are taking place. The Strait of Hormuz is closed down. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps announced to all tankers in the Persian Gulf, if any of you come near the Strait of Hormuz exit, we will shoot at you. In fact, Two Indian tankers that went close to the Strait of Ramos believing that they had permission were shot at by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. We have some of the audio of Iranian Revolutionary Guard putting out over their Channel 16 to the other ship saying, if you come close based on Donald Trump's tweets, a stupid person's tweets, you will be shot, you will be killed.
4:41Ben Meiselas:Let me just play for you what's being transmitted by Iran to the local tanker so you can just hear it for yourself. And then I'm going to bring you into the Situation Room as Donald Trump is panicking and calling this emergency meeting. Here, play this clip. In Pershing Gulf and Oman Sea, this is Iranian Stephanie calling on Channel 16. State of Homo is still closed. We will open it by the order of our leader, Imam Khamenei, not by the tweets of some idiots. If you want to pass through the strait, you must ask permission from Iranian set-up navy. All vessels that have a connection with our enemies will be targeted if they try to pass the strait-up almost out.
5:27Ben Meiselas:Now, folks, you don't have to just take it from my word that Donald Trump is panicking. The Wall Street Journal just wrote an expose with multiple sources close to Donald Trump talking about how he is panicking about this war and how he tries to project bravado, but that he's like pacing through the White House and does not have any clear plans or intentions at all. And then when he gets nervous, he just wants to talk about his ballroom and building arches. It's really quite pathetic. But Donald Trump made this meeting, the Situation Room meeting with some of his top officials. J.D. Vance was there.
6:04Ben Meiselas:Rubio was there. Hegseth was there. Besant was there. His chief of staff, Susie Wiles, was there. Steve Whitcoff. I don't know why this guy keeps coming around and he's the worst. He was there. They're all the worst, frankly. CIA director John Ratcliffe was there. And the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Dan Cain, was there as well. And a senior U.S. official said, based on what was transpiring in this emergency situation room meeting, that if there's not a breakthrough soon with Iran. The war could resume in the coming days. Lots of people in the Middle East are expecting escalation as well. Shortly after Donald Trump got out of the situation room with all of those individuals, he made the following post on social media.
6:47Ben Meiselas:Whether people like Israel or not, they have proven to be a great ally of the United States of America. They are courageous, bold, loyal, and smart. Unlike others that have shown their true colors in a moment of conflict and stress. Israel fights hard and knows how to win. President D.J.T. Now, earlier in the day, yesterday morning, Donald Trump held that bizarre press conference in the Oval Office with Joe Rogan to sign some executive order about psychedelics. And obviously, Donald Trump had Joe Rogan in the Oval Office to try to distract from the fact that on Friday, he engaged in one of his most brazen efforts to manipulate the market and succeeded in doing so by making up a completely fake deal with Iran that Iran didn't agree to any of the things that Donald Trump was spewing to reporters who were basically just publishing it like they were Donald Trump's stenographer.
7:37Ben Meiselas:While we at the Midas Touch Network were like, hello, can we look at what's really happening in the Strait of Ramos? Can we look at what's really happening in Iran? Donald Trump's lying about everything. Stop publishing this BS. Let's talk about the reality. Fortunately, the Midas Touch Network right now is the most watched news network out there in the United States and throughout the world. By the way, make sure you're subscribed. Help us get 7 million subscribers. So lots of people were getting the truth, but a lot of lies were being spewed out there. But Donald Trump held that weird press conference in the Oval Office yesterday with Joe Rogan to try to distract from everything.
8:10Ben Meiselas:And one of the things that Donald Trump said in the press conference is he goes, yeah, Ron, they want to close up the straight again. You know, as they've been doing for years, they can't blackmail us. They're cute. They're trying to be a little cute with us. We'll have some information by the end of the day. We're talking to them. So yesterday, Donald Trump said we'll have information by the end of the day. By the end of the day, surprise, surprise, Donald Trump did not have information. Why? Because he lies about everything. Just a reminder, you'll see Joe Rogan in the background here. This was the bizarre press conference that Donald Trump held yesterday in the Oval Office.
8:45Ben Meiselas:Just I'll play you a short clip right here. Let's play it. And we'll be talking about Iran later. We have a very good conversations going on. It's working out very well. They got a little cute, as they have been doing for 47 years. Nobody ever took them on. We took them on. They have no Navy. They have no Air Force. They have no leaders. They have no nothing. Actually, their leaders are, it is regime change. You call that enforced regime change. But we're talking to them. They wanted to close up the straight again, you know, as they've been doing for years, and they can't blackmail us. In fact, a lot of the ships are coming up to Texas.
9:24I don't know if you know, in Louisiana, the ships are coming up. They got used to it. Maybe they'll keep doing it. It's worked out pretty good. But it's going actually along very well. And we'll see. But we'll have some information by the end of the day.
9:39Ben Meiselas:And then you have Iran posting on their social media accounts the following about Donald Trump, amateur hour diplomacy. Here's the video they just posted on the Iranian social media accounts. Let's play it.
10:09Ben Meiselas:Now, one of the things that also came out of this Situation Room emergency meeting. We're learning that the U.S. is preparing in the coming days to board and seize Iran-linked tankers and commercial ships in international waters, according to U.S. officials. We'll see if that actually takes place because we know Iran will shoot back and they will fight back and that will just lead to more escalation. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy put out the following statement. No vessel should move from its anchorage in the Persian Gulf or the Sea of Oman. The strait is closed. Following Iran's announcement permitting non-military vessels to pass through the Larik Corridor, that's that corridor that goes really close with Iran's coast.
10:53Ben Meiselas:And Iran is saying that's the coordinated route that they were going to allow ships that pay a toll to go through. And then Donald Trump's like, the whole strait's open, but we're going to continue the blockade. So Iran was like, OK, we're not even going to allow the Larik Corridor to stay open. So there were ships that were going through the Lara Corridor. Then the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy said, however, after the American side violated the ceasefire conditions and failed to lift its naval blockade, right? The Trump regime has that naval blockade of the Persian Gulf on Iranian vessels and ports.
11:25Ben Meiselas:The Strait of Hormuz has been closed as of yesterday afternoon until the blockade is lifted. We therefore warn that no vessel should move from its anchorage in the Persian Gulf or the Sea of Oman. Approaching the Strait of Hormuz will be considered cooperation with the enemy, and any violating vessel will be targeted. All vessels and their owners are also instructed to follow updates only through the official IRGC Navy channels and Channel 16. Statements by the terrorist U.S. President regarding the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf have no credibility. And you also have the head of Iranians' Parliament National Security Commission releasing a statement about Donald Trump's claims on Friday, delivering uranium to America, the complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, continuation of the American maritime siege of Iran, and zero enrichment are just part of Trump's April lies and fabrication.
12:23Ben Meiselas:That's what Iran Parliament's National Security Commission is releasing. Also, Iran's parliament leader, MB Ghalibaf gave a long interview yesterday, which was broadcast on Iranian TV. This was like the must-watch interview if you were in Iran, because they wanted to know what Ghalibaf, who's the lead negotiator, or was the lead negotiator with the United States and Pakistan, what he had to say. And here's what he said during this big kind of primetime Iranian interview that he gave yesterday. The Strait of Hormuz is under the control of the Islamic Republic of Iran. We responded decisively to the U.S.
12:59Ben Meiselas:attempt at mine clearing and considered it a violation of the ceasefire. The situation escalated close to confrontation, but the enemy backed down. If traffic is currently taking place in the strait, it is because the control of the strait is in our hands. The Americans have announced a blockade in recent days. This is a reckless and ignorant decision. It is impossible for others to pass through the strait while we cannot. If the U.S. does not lift the blockade, movement through the Strait of Hormuz will definitely be restricted. I am ready for martyrdom. We are ready both to shed blood and to endure deep hardship.
13:36Ben Meiselas:The enemy, the United States, sought regime change and to Venezuelanize Iran in order to auction off our oil. But they failed. We are fully prepared. And if they, the United States, makes the slightest mistake, we will respond with force. The enemy failed in its various plans it had, destroying the Air Force and missile capabilities, destroying the Navy, launching a ground attack, and opening the Strait of Hormuz. And all of these, they were unsuccessful. And in fact, what we learned just now, U.S. intelligence assesses that Iran still retains 40 % of its pre-war stockpile of drones. And after conducting operations to dig up buried missile cities during the ceasefire, 60 % of its missile launchers.
14:24Ben Meiselas:So Iran has most of its weapons. And during the ceasefire, they're rapidly building right now. May I share with you something before we go? This is from Danny Citrinitz. He's a former analyst of Iran in the Middle East region, where he was an analyst for Israel. But he's been providing very, very critical analysis against the United States and Israel's horrific war plans over here and their unlawful war. But his analysis, I think, really actually understands the Iranian regime at a deep level. and I don't think you're really hearing this anywhere else. So let me just share with you what he said.
15:03Ben Meiselas:He goes, I don't know what has been presented in the White House during this emergency situation room meeting that I've been talking about on this video, but this is the adversary status I would present with one important takeaway. At this stage, the most important requirement for U.S. policy is strategic realism about what the use of force can still achieve against Iran. Iran's leadership is not interested in prolonging the war, but it believes it holds an advantage in a pain tolerance competition vis-a-vis the United States and the international community. Threats of force are unlikely to produce meaningful concessions in negotiations.
15:43Ben Meiselas:Iran is expected to hold firmly to the red lines it has maintained from the outset. In other words, that 10-point framework, it's non-negotiables. It's not moving away from those. It will keep control of the strait of her moves it will not give up its ballistic missiles it wants to enrich uranium maybe you can have a time frame of where they will stop your rich uranium but they're going to say they're going to enrich uranium they want security guarantees for themselves and for hezbollah and for their shiite groups in iraq and for the houthis they're what they call the access of resistance they want reparations for the war these are some of their non-negotiables they want to charge a toll through the strait of her moves when they control it these they've always said non-negotiables.
16:24Ben Meiselas:And the threats of force are unlikely to change that, in fact, and likely harden that and allow the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps contingent that's in power to assert more power over, let's say, more of the kind of civilian negotiators. Maritime pressure by the United States will not compel Iranian capitulation. Absent an agreement, it is more likely to lead to a direct confrontation between the U.S. and Iran. Interdictions of Iranian shipping may accelerate escalation, but not surrender. The current Iranian leadership will not give up uranium enrichment, its missile program, support for its regional network of proxies, or its strategic influence over the Strait of Hormuz.
17:06Ben Meiselas:Limited strikes will not alter this trajectory. Tehran is not easily swayed by signaling. A broader campaign against Iran's civilian infrastructure could severely damage its economy, but would almost certainly trigger wide-scale retaliation, particularly against energy infrastructure across the Gulf. Without regime change, which would require a dramatic U.S. investment in time, resources, and political will, these core dynamics are unlikely to shift. Decision-making in Iran is becoming more fragmented and hard-line, increasingly shaped by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the military factions.
17:40Ben Meiselas:This makes coherent compromise more difficult than in the past. What Iran did not concede before or during the conflict, it is even less likely to concede now, regardless of military pressure or blockade measures. In the absence of a deal, escalation is not a risk. It is the default trajectory. Iran is already preparing for it, including efforts to rebuild and reinforce missile capabilities. To date, even successful operational achievements have not meaningfully changed Iran's strategic calculus. Paradoxically, the campaign has weakened Iran economically, but strengthened the regime internally, especially among the regime supporters.
18:22Ben Meiselas:So I think that's, I mean, it's an important analysis for you to examine. And I think it's spot on. I mean, from all of my studies in the region, I think that's the most accurate assessment that you have. And when Trump threatens and escalates, you're just doing as part of a negotiation, you're not going to get the outcome of Iran capitulin. You're going to get the opposite outcome. I know it's almost fairly basic to say that, but I think understanding the history there a little bit is helpful. We'll keep you posted every step of the way as always. Hit subscribe. Help us get to 7 million subscribers.
18:56Ben Meiselas:You may think you're subscribed, but you may not actually be subscribed. So double check and help us get to 7 million. Thanks for watching.
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From the publisher
MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on the emergency meeting Trump just called in the Situation Room at the White House as an escalation of his unlawful war with Iran may be imminent after his lies from Friday about deal terms has been exposed and has resulted in the Strait of Hormuz being shut down yet again.
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