Economic impacts and financial reports
Sen. Lindsey Graham told NBC that keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed while pursuing an unattainable deal only strengthens Iran, and he called on then-President Trump to take further actions to weaken the country even more.
On Monday, April 18, 2025, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and a former member of the Revolutionary Guard, was appointed as Iran's special representative for China, succeeding Ali Larijani and Abdolrahman Rafiei Fazel. This announcement came two days after US President Donald Trump's formal meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where discussions included Iran's nuclear ambitions and the Strait of Hormuz.
A Russian airforce evacuation flight departed from the UAE today and headed to Russia, following its arrival yesterday from Mogadishu where it picked up important individuals or cargo. This flight mirrors a similar operation that occurred on February 24th, just before US strikes on Iran.
Israel's Channel 13 reported that assessments in the Israeli army suggest former U.S. President Trump, upon returning from China, will order an attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran to catch Tehran off guard, aiming to target senior officials and critical infrastructure. The report estimates the air force will participate in the joint attack, targeting governmental and energy facilities, with the goal of forcing Iran to negotiate from a weakened position.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that the Strait of Hormuz is expected to be reopened "at the latest by sometime this summer," and warned that U.S. military intervention could occur if Iran continues to disrupt global energy supplies.
On April 8, 2026, an Emirati airstrike on Iran’s petrochemical plant and Lavan oil refinery facilities on Siri Island in the Strait of Hormuz caused massive fires, oil leaks, and toxic pollution, devastating marine habitats and reportedly killing large numbers of animals in the surrounding waters and coastal areas.
A blitz airstrike was reported in western Gaza, likely targeting an individual for assassination.
During a meeting with the President of China, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that both Beijing and Washington agree that Iran must not acquire nuclear weapons and that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open.
Ali-Hossein Ghazizadeh, a member of the editorial board of Iran International, stated that the Islamic Republic continued to sell oil during the 40 days of U.S. and Israeli military operations and suggested that a renewed combination of a naval blockade and military action could be fatal for the regime.
Ukrainian President Zelensky visited the site of a residential building in Kyiv’s Darnytskyi district destroyed by a Russian missile strike, where he laid flowers in memory of the 24 people killed, including three children. A day of mourning has been declared in Kyiv.
Jasmine Greer, the U.S. Trade Representative, stated in Beijing on Friday that Chinese officials at the U.S.-China summit expressed a desire for the Strait of Hormuz to remain open without tolls or military controls, and indicated that China will take pragmatic steps to limit military support for Iran.
During a meeting with Xi Jinping, Donald Trump suggested that China assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Trump added that Xi assured him China would not supply military equipment to Tehran.
