Reactions and statements from the international community
USS Truxtun (DDG-103), USS Rafael Peralta (DDG-115), and USS Mason (DDG-87) are operating in the Arabian Sea as part of the naval blockade on Iran, having redirected 57 commercial vessels and disabled 4 to block traffic to and from Iranian ports.
Rahmani Fazli, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to China, dismissed reports of Iran attacking a Chinese tanker in the Strait of Hormuz as "unrealistic," stating they were published to influence the outcomes of Iran's Foreign Minister's recent visit to Beijing. He also predicted that relations between Tehran and Beijing would become "broader and deeper" post-war, with China potentially serving as a "guarantor of any agreement" in the region due to its stance on Iran and Gulf countries.
Mohammad Mokhber, advisor to the leader of the Islamic Republic, on Friday described Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz as "an asset on the scale of a nuclear bomb" and said Iran would not relinquish control over the strategic waterway. Mokhber also threatened the United Arab Emirates, stating that the country "has been punished and will be punished even more," amid ongoing attacks by Iran on UAE territory.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States is waiting for a response from the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding recent proposals and expressed hope for "serious and genuine" negotiations. Rubio also noted that Iran's efforts to control the Strait of Hormuz are unacceptable and emphasized that the Iranian government is highly fragile, which may be causing delays in its response.
On January 15, 2026, U.S. forces disabled the Iranian tankers Sea Star III and Sevda with precision strikes from an F/A-18 Super Hornet launched from the USS George H.W. Bush, after the vessels attempted to breach the American naval blockade and enter an Iranian port.
The Islamic Republic of Iran is allegedly dumping oil directly into the sea due to a lack of storage capacity. Environmental activists have not responded to this reported incident.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States will not accept Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, amid ongoing tensions in the strategic waterway. Rubio also stated that the US expects to receive Tehran's response to the US peace plan on the same day.
The U.S. military, using an F-18 fighter jet and an F/A-18 Super Hornet from the USS Abraham Lincoln, disabled three empty oil tankers — Sauda, Sea Star 3, and Hasna — flying the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as they attempted to enter Iranian ports in the Sea of Oman. The tankers were targeted with precision-guided munitions and cannon fire, disabling their smokestacks and rudder.
On May 6 and May 8, U.S. Navy F/A-18s disabled three Iranian-flagged tankers in the Gulf of Oman: M/T Hasna had its rudder damaged by 20mm cannon fire, while M/T Sea Star III and M/T Sevda were hit with precision munitions to their smokestacks. Over 50 commercial vessels have been redirected by CENTCOM forces, and multiple others have been disabled.
Large firefights have been occurring for an hour between the US Navy and Iranian forces around the Strait of Hormuz.
Satellite images captured between May 6 and 8 revealed a large oil slick covering approximately 45 square kilometers in the waters around Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export terminal, raising concerns of a significant oil spill since the start of the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran about 70 days ago.
Videos published on social media show smoke rising near Dubai International Airport, as the UAE Ministry of Defense reports that air defense systems intercepted two ballistic missiles and three drones launched by the Islamic Republic, resulting in three people sustaining "moderate" injuries.
