Reactions and statements from the international community
The U.S.-mediated third round of talks between Israel and Lebanon has extended the ceasefire for another 45 days. Negotiations are scheduled to resume on June 2-3. - U.S. State Department
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, and Israel Katz, the Defense Minister, announced that the Israeli army conducted an airstrike targeting Uzz al-Din Haddad, a senior commander of Hamas's military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
Donald Trump stated, "I don't ask anyone for favors because when you ask for a favor, you have to give one in return, and we don't need to do that," and added, "In practice, we destroyed Iran's military forces. Perhaps some additional cleanup operations are still needed, as we announced a ceasefire about a month ago, but a very effective siege was created, which was the main goal."
Images of oil spills and severe environmental pollution around Maro Island, resulting from an airstrike on oil facilities on Lavan Island, have been shared on social media. Kaveh Madani, an Iranian scientist, highlighted the environmental damage on his X page, describing the impact on Maro Island's ecosystem in the Persian Gulf.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that since the start of the Iranian maritime blockade, 75 commercial ships have been rerouted and four others have been disabled, indicating the full implementation of the Strait of Hormuz blockade.
Sounds of warfare have resumed in northern Israel, with no ceasefire in effect. Shabbat is expected to be marked by continued military activity in the region.
In Karaj, Iran, Mohammad-Mehdi Hosseini Hamedani, a representative of Supreme Leader Khamenei, called for the destruction of Israel and described both the Zionist regime and the United States as embodiments of falsehood.
The CENTCOM commander denied reports that the Islamic Republic of Iran retains the majority of its missile capabilities, contradicting earlier claims by the Washington Post that Tehran still has about 75 percent of its mobile launchers and 70 percent of its pre-war missile stockpiles.
On Friday, April 25, 2025, Abdul Samad Mirhosseini, the Deputy Attorney General of Iran, announced that approximately 250,000 legal and criminal complaints regarding "war crimes of America and Israel" have been filed and are under investigation in Iran's courts. The cases, including the attack on the Minab School and the Dana ship incident, are being documented by the Special Branches of the Prosecutor's Office and the Court with assistance from various institutions.
On May 15, Mohammad Mehdi Hosseini-Hamedani, the Friday prayer leader of Karaj, called for continuing the war until the end of "fitna" and emphasized the need for Israel's complete annihilation during his Friday prayers. He also stressed the importance of obedience to Mojtaba Khamenei and the elimination of disobedient elements.
A bipartisan group of 20 U.S. Congress members, led by Brad Sherman, Claudia Tenney, and Mike Lawler, has sent a letter to the British government urging it to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. The letter highlights the IRGC's role in suppressing Iranian dissent, conducting terrorist operations, and supporting proxy forces of the Islamic Republic regime.
Wang Yi, China's Foreign Minister, stated that resolving the Strait of Hormuz crisis requires a "permanent and comprehensive ceasefire" between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran, according to Xinhua News Agency. Wang emphasized during a conversation with President Donald Trump that dialogue is essential and must remain open to resolve conflicts in the Middle East.
