Reactions and statements from the international community
On the night of yesterday, US military tankers conducted operations over the Strait of Hormuz and parts of Iraq following strikes on Iranian naval boats and military positions along the southern shore of Iran.
International Airlines Group, owner of British Airways, announced a £1.7 billion ($2.3 billion) increase in aircraft fuel costs for the year due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by the Islamic Republic regime, leading to a 4% drop in the company's stock value. More than 70% of Europe's aircraft fuel is supplied from Arab countries in the Persian Gulf region, now directly impacted by the crisis.
On May 8, China's Foreign Ministry confirmed that a tanker targeted in an attack near the Strait of Hormuz on May 4 belongs to a Chinese company and was crewed by Chinese citizens; the vessel, likely the "JV Innovation," was carrying chemicals and reported a fire but no crew casualties have been reported. The incident occurred off the coast of the United Arab Emirates near Mina Saqr.
China confirmed that an oil tanker linked to the country was targeted in an attack near the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. The vessel, carrying petroleum products with a Chinese crew, sustained damage but no casualties or injuries were reported.
South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced an investigation into an explosion on a South Korean ship in the Strait of Hormuz near the United Arab Emirates on Monday; the ship's operating company and officials reported no injuries among the 24 crew members, including six South Koreans, while the Islamic Republic's embassy denied any involvement.
Asia received its first shipment of Mexican fuel oil in nine months, with the tanker "Orion" delivering 160,000 tons to Singapore, due to Middle East supply disruptions caused by the Iran conflict and rising fuel prices in the region. State-owned Pemex has also offered another shipment for delivery in June.
US Central Command announced on [current date] that the United States has conducted military strikes against missile and drone launch sites, command and control centers, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance facilities of the Islamic Republic in Iran.
The UN International Maritime Organization Secretary-General announced that approximately 1,500 ships and 20,000 crew members are stranded in the Strait of Hormuz due to the closure by the Islamic Republic regime, resulting in a humanitarian crisis with 10 sailors losing their lives and over 30 attacks on ships reported.
Abulqasem Jarareh, Secretary-General of the Shariyan Front and former parliament member, stated that the Strait of Hormuz will be managed with "new methods" as per a demand from Mojtaba Khamenei, and called for the arrest of those he described as "coup plotters" and negotiators with America.
Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran expressed frustration during the 1979 Islamic Revolution over Western attempts to understand and humanize the Islamist regime, which he believed was engaging in indiscriminate violence and massacre.
On Friday, May 8, a citizen sent a video to Iran International showing smoke rising from a point in southwestern Tehran after the sound of a fighter jet was heard and a target was hit.
Ruhollah Momen-Nasab, Secretary of the Tehran Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Headquarters, criticized the government for closing borders and the Strait of Hormuz to enemies while allowing control of cyberspace to be compromised. He emphasized that cyberspace must not revert to its previous state, drawing a parallel to the unchanging status of martyrs.
