Reactions and statements from the international community
Iranian state media broadcast footage of the Strait of Hormuz, claiming that all maritime transit through the passage, which runs between Larak and Qeshm islands, now requires approval from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Reuters reports that Pakistan is urging President Trump to lift the naval blockade to facilitate further negotiations. According to the report, President Trump stated he would consider the request, though this has not been confirmed by the Trump administration.
On April 31, a video published from the coast of Oman showed ships waiting around the Strait of Hormuz, which has been closed since the start of the war in the Persian Gulf, causing disruptions to global oil and gas supplies. Hundreds of oil tankers and other ships, along with 20,000 seafarers, have been stranded.
Chinese state media reported that President Xi Jinping, in a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, stressed the importance of maintaining normal traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump rejected a Reuters report citing a Pakistani official who claimed the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports was hindering negotiations, stating that the Pakistani army chief made no recommendations regarding the blockade and that Iran is losing $500 million daily due to the blockade.
Mixed signals from Tehran indicate a fragmented power structure within Iran, with competing factions including clerical leadership, political institutions, and the IRGC pulling in different directions without a clear consensus.
Ismail Qaani, commander of the IRGC Quds Force, announced a trip to Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, to express gratitude and appreciation from the people and the Islamic Republic system for support from the Iraqi people and officials.
Mossad, the Israeli army, and Shin Bet announced the neutralization of an IRGC-backed network that planned to attack strategic infrastructure, including the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and other targets, in the Republic of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani officials arrested members of the cell while they were preparing for the operation.
Reza Pahlavi and Masih Alinejad, prominent Iranian opposition figures, are increasingly distancing themselves from U.S.–Israel military actions against Iran, as the war's impact on the Iranian population has shifted public perception and necessitated a repositioning to maintain domestic legitimacy.
Three Israeli security and military agencies announced the arrest of an operational cell linked to Iran's Quds Force in Azerbaijan, which they claim had planned to attack a strategic oil pipeline and Jewish and Israeli targets, including the Israeli embassy and a synagogue in Baku.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) to demand normal ship passage through the Strait of Hormuz, an immediate ceasefire, and a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for the Strait of Hormuz to remain open for normal passage, stating it aligns with the common interest of regional and international countries.
