Reactions and statements from the international community
President Donald J. Trump accused the media of treason for reporting positively on Iran's military capabilities, claiming that Iran's navy, air force, technology, and leadership have been completely destroyed, leaving the country in economic ruin.
Reuters, citing two Western officials, reported that Saudi Arabia conducted several undeclared airstrikes against positions in Iran during the recent Middle East war in response to attacks on Saudi soil.
The U.S. State Department stated on Tuesday that senior U.S. and Chinese officials agree no country should collect shipping tolls through the Strait of Hormuz, ahead of a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Tammy Pigott, a State Department spokesperson, confirmed that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed the matter during a phone call last month, agreeing that international waterways like the Strait of Hormuz must remain free from tolls.
At the annual Politico security summit, Prince Reza Pahlavi responded to Donald Trump's threat to destroy Iran's civilian infrastructure, stating that such actions send the "wrong message" to the Iranian people and emphasized the need to distinguish between the people and the regime.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry rejected any plans for hostile actions against Kuwait after the arrest of four individuals "affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps" in Kuwait, claiming they had entered Kuwaiti waters due to a navigation system malfunction during a routine maritime patrol.
China and the United States have agreed that they oppose Iran's practice of tolling ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Reuters.
The U.S. State Department sanctioned three Chinese satellite companies—Earth Eye, MizarVision, and Chang Guang Satellite Technology—for providing Iran with imagery of U.S. military positions during Operation Epic Fury, which Washington says aided Iran in striking American forces.
On December 14, 2025, the IRGC concluded a five-day military exercise named “Labbayk Ya Khamenei” in and around Tehran, practicing asymmetric warfare, drone and MANPADS use, and urban combat operations to prepare for potential future uprisings.
Britain's government announced it will deploy Typhoon fighter jets, drones, autonomous mine-hunting equipment, and a warship to the Persian Gulf as part of a multinational mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz, amid escalating tensions with the Iranian regime.
Saudi Arabia conducted several airstrikes against targets in Iran in late March in response to missile and drone attacks by the Islamic Republic, according to Reuters, citing Western and Iranian officials. Following the strikes, both countries engaged in intensive diplomatic contacts and agreed to de-escalate tensions.
On Tuesday, May 12, 2025, the British government announced the deployment of autonomous maritime mine-clearing equipment, Typhoon fighter jets, and the destroyer HMS Dragon to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz as part of a multinational mission.
On Tuesday, Britain announced it will deploy autonomous mine-clearing equipment, Typhoon fighter jets, and the warship HMS Dragon to the Strait of Hormuz as part of a multinational defensive mission to secure shipping in the strategic waterway. The British government also revealed a new £115 million budget for mine-clearing drones and counter-drone systems to support the mission.
