Reactions and statements from the international community
Four days after being announced as the leader of the Islamic Republic, Mojtaba Khamenei has not made a public appearance, making his absence a major topic of discussion on social media in Iran.
On March 10, 2025, unidentified attackers struck multiple military bases and border guard headquarters in Marivan, Kurdistan Province, including the Imam Peak, Chaog, and IRGC bases around Lake Zaribar, as well as several points within Marivan and nearby towns such as the Bardsar and Byeh-Karah bases.
Anwar Gargash, the Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the UAE, stated that Iran's claim of targeting US military bases in the Gulf is false, asserting that the scale of missile and drone attacks indicates a focus on civilian infrastructure and vital facilities, disregarding civilian safety.
Iranian officials have declared that no oil will pass through the Strait of Hormuz to benefit the U.S., Israel, or their allies, stating that any tanker bound for them is a "legitimate target." The announcement also warns of potential oil prices reaching $200 per barrel.
Israel's Foreign Ministry IEX account posted a graphic depicting Mojtaba Khamenei with a reinforced headscarf and a video message saying, "You can flee. You can hide. But the government of Muqawwaii will not." Mojtaba Khamenei, who has been the de facto leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran for six months, remains unseen and has not issued any official statements or manifestos.
Images received by Iran International show military vehicles deployed near the entrance to the Islamic Azad University in Qods City. Citizens report that a checkpoint has been established in front of the university following an attack on the IRGC headquarters in Farzan Township.
Satellite footage released by CENTCOM shows the aftermath of US strikes that sank several Iranian warships at the beginning of the war while they were docked in Bandar Abbas port.
Iranian projectiles struck at least three cargo vessels in the Strait of Hormuz over the last 24 hours, including a Thailand-flagged bulk carrier off the coast of Oman where the crew was evacuated, a Japan-flagged container ship off the coast of the United Arab Emirates with minor damage, and a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier near the UAE with slight damage.
On Wednesday, March 20, 1404 (March 11, 2025), the "Khatam al-Anbiya" Headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement blaming the United States and Israel for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Israel’s Defense Minister Katz stated that Iran’s leadership is hiding in tunnels, similar to Hamas leaders in Gaza, and directing attacks on civilians in Israel and the region. He also reported that hospital morgues in Iran are filled with thousands of casualties from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij militia, and that the ongoing military operation, initiated by President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, will continue indefinitely until all objectives are met.
The Pakistan Navy has launched an operation to address multifaceted threats to the country's shipping and maritime trade following tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, in response to concerns raised by Islamabad. (Interview with Javad Hamdani, reporter for Iran International)
Pete Hegseth, the United States Secretary of War, announced that American forces are targeting Islamic Republic mine-laying vessels in the Strait of Hormuz due to concerns over rising oil prices and disruptions to tanker movements.
