Reactions and statements from the international community
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced at the White House press briefing that the Iranian regime has taken ships hostage in the Strait of Hormuz, endangering the lives of crew members and stationed forces.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the naval blockade against the Islamic Republic of Iran targets the regime's primary revenue sources, halting 90% of Iran's total trade and causing up to $500 million in daily revenue loss, while also inflicting permanent damage on oil infrastructure.
On Tuesday, Press TV, affiliated with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, reported that Tehran has established a new mechanism for managing ship passage through the Strait of Hormuz, expanding the area under Iran's control and requiring coordination with Iranian military forces.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced at a White House press conference that the United States will rescue nearly 23,000 civilians trapped in the Persian Gulf and expand defensive measures in the Strait of Hormuz, confirming that U.S. forces have destroyed 7 Iranian fast boats, resulting in the deaths of 10 civilian sailors.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the U.S. is proposing a UN Security Council resolution regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
The IRGC spokesman for Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters denied on Monday that the Islamic Republic's armed forces carried out any missile or drone attacks against the UAE, warning that any action from UAE soil against Iranian territories would receive a "crushing and regret-inducing" response.
The United Arab Emirates reported attacks by the Islamic Republic over the past two days, including videos showing fires from these attacks, while the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of the IRGC denied carrying out any missile or drone attacks against the UAE recently.
The US Central Command spokesperson told Al Jazeera that positive responses have been received from ship owners and insurance companies regarding the "Prosperity Guardian" project, which aims to provide a secure route for commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. US forces are also intensifying the blockade of Iranian ports and supporting the project to protect ships from more than 80 countries.
Iranian President Pezeshkian stated that American demands are "impossible and unreachable," in a recent statement.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that Operation "Project Freedom" in the Strait of Hormuz is a temporary mission to establish a secure corridor and security umbrella for commercial vessels. The operation aims to ensure safe passage through the strait, and has received positive reactions from shipowners and insurance companies.
On Tuesday, the Navy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement warning vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz to adhere to the "corridor declared by the Islamic Republic," threatening a decisive response from the IRGC Navy for any deviation.
On Tuesday, May 5, the IRGC Navy Command warned vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to use only the previously announced safe corridor, threatening "decisive action" for deviations. The warning follows the U.S. initiation of "Operation Liberty" to escort neutral ships through the strait, which had been closed by the IRGC, leading to Iranian attacks on ships and a drone strike causing a fire at the UAE's Fujairah oil port.
