Reactions and statements from the international community
The Islamic Republic of Iran has not fired missiles at any ships for two consecutive days, and the volume of oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz has increased to levels not seen since the start of the conflicts.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated that the United States aims to protect commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the flow of oil from the Persian Gulf, emphasizing that the U.S. does not plan for a permanent military presence but demands that the Islamic Republic of Iran cease threatening international shipping.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that regime change cannot be achieved through bombing and warned that more extreme military actions being pushed by individuals associated with former U.S. President Donald Trump would likely require extensive ground operations and a prolonged war, citing the failure of long-term military involvement in Afghanistan.
The Vice President of the United States announced that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz reduced the price of oil from $126 to around $75, leading to a decrease in U.S. gasoline prices below $4 for the first time since March.
In an interview with NBC News, former U.S. President Barack Obama expressed satisfaction with the ceasefire established after the Iran war but noted that the U.S. may now be in a "slightly worse position" than before the conflict began. Obama criticized the withdrawal from the nuclear agreement, stating that the U.S. has spent billions of dollars and lost many lives, yet returned to a nearly identical or worse situation regarding Iran's nuclear capacity.
Abbas Goudarzi, spokesperson for the Parliament's Presiding Board in Iran, stated that despite not having a usual presence, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is aware of and manages affairs, taking others' opinions into account. Goudarzi also emphasized that the negotiating team must坚守红线和核心利益。
Kazem Gharibabadi, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran for Legal and International Affairs, stated that the opening of the Strait of Hormuz does not mean it is fully accessible, suggesting it remains partially restricted. These comments come as the status of passage through the strategically vital waterway continues to be a focal point of regional concerns.
On Saturday, June 19, the Islamic Republic Army issued a statement declaring its readiness to defend national security and interests alongside the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, stating they are prepared to respond to any enemy aggression. The statement also claims that the armed forces' readiness forced the enemy to seek a ceasefire and reconciliation.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced on X that the Israeli army bombed 150 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, resulting in the death of dozens of Hezbollah members.
The Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, called on Iranian officials to close the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon and to pressure the United States. The agency urged immediate termination of the memorandum of understanding and advocated for a strong response to prevent further harm to the Islamic Republic and resistance movements.
Mohammad Manan Raisi, a member of the Islamic Republic's parliament, called for the reopening of parliament on the social network X in response to Mojtaba Khamenei's message about the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States. Hossein-Ali Shahriari, head of the parliament's Health and Treatment Commission, also criticized the closure of parliament on June 19, stating that any final agreement with the U.S. must be approved by parliament.
Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Parliament's National Security Commission, wrote on X that the government must support Lebanon's "Resistance Front" as per the "Leader's" message and prevent the people of southern Lebanon from being "massacred." Earlier, Mojtaba Khamenei issued a written message expressing disagreement with the agreement between the Islamic Republic and America but gave permission for its implementation after Masoud Pezeshkian accepted responsibility.
