Reactions and statements from the international community
Israel intercepted all vessels in a Gaza-bound flotilla overnight, removing participants unharmed; they will be disembarked in Greece in the coming hours. Israel stated it will not permit any breach of the naval blockade.
The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on 35 individuals and entities as part of the "Economic Fury" campaign, targeting the Islamic Republic's shadow banking networks that facilitated the transfer of billions of dollars to circumvent sanctions, sell oil illegally, and finance the IRGC and proxy forces.
U.S. Marines aboard the USS New Orleans (LPD 18) are conducting naval blockade operations in the Arabian Sea, where 44 commercial vessels have been ordered to turn around or return to port.
President Trump criticized the German Chancellor for ineffective handling of the Russia/Ukraine war and domestic issues like immigration and energy, urging him to focus less on interfering with actions against Iran's nuclear program. Earlier, Trump mentioned the U.S. is studying a potential reduction in American troops stationed in Germany.
Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, expressed deep distrust towards the United States and Israel during a telephone conversation with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, citing previous nuclear negotiations and attacks by those countries. Pezeshkian also emphasized the importance of resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf commemorated Persian Gulf Day by stating that Iran will manage the Strait of Hormuz to ensure a future free from American presence and interference, drawing a historical parallel to the expulsion of European colonizers in 1622.
President Donald Trump stated that officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran "have no choice but to publicly and officially accept surrender," emphasizing the continuation of the naval blockade until an agreement is reached.
Friedrich Merz, Chancellor of Germany, stated on Thursday that Iran cannot hold the world hostage by blocking the Strait of Hormuz and called for Iran to negotiate and end its military program. During a visit to a military training center, Merz also emphasized the importance of a united NATO and reliable transatlantic partnership, amid criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump and potential U.S. military presence reductions in Germany.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene stated that the United States government should prioritize serving American citizens' interests and avoid getting involved in military actions such as bombing Iran or funding military operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and other regions.
German Chancellor Merz stated that while the country has sufficient oil and gas supplies, it is pursuing all diplomatic efforts to ensure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, responded on X to a post by former US President Donald Trump on Truth Social, where Trump suggested renaming the Strait of Hormuz the "Trump Strait." Araghchi stated that using any other name for the strait is "undoubtedly a very bad mistake."
On Thursday, May 10, Iranian media outlets published a message attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, in which he declared the "dawning of a new chapter for the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz," asserting Iran's control over the strait and emphasizing a future without American influence.
