Reactions and statements from the international community
The Helga tanker has arrived at the Basra terminal in Iraq to load two million barrels of crude oil, making it the second tanker to reach the terminal since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Israel Katz, Israel's Defense Minister, stated that the country's army is prepared to resume war with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Israeli media report that the Netanyahu government is awaiting approval from the Trump administration to target Mojtaba Khamenei.
Kazem Jalali, the ambassador of the Islamic Republic, informed Russia's state news agency in Moscow that Russia is exempt from paying transit fees through the Strait of Hormuz. Concurrently, the Islamic Republic closed the Strait of Hormuz and announced it would charge tolls for passage, drawing protests from countries dependent on the free flow of energy through the strait.
![@Open Source Intel: Sec. Marco Rubio on Iran in the world cup:
"Nothing from the U.S. has told [Iran] they can't come... What they can't bring is a bunch of IRGC terrorists into our country and pretend that they're jou](https://pub-4357b54df55146feb8261be683c32511.r2.dev/thumbnails/1777019465946-4cdca3c8da856171-AaOjvzttxEKHyAio.webp)
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that while the United States has not forbidden Iran from participating in the World Cup, Iran cannot bring members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) into the country and disguise them as journalists or athletic trainers.
Hapag-Lloyd, a German shipping company, announced that one of its vessels has passed through the Strait of Hormuz. According to a spokesperson, four of the company's ships remain in the Persian Gulf, with the lease contract for one of the vessels having expired.
President Donald Trump of the United States emphasized a naval blockade of Iran until a lasting agreement is reached, asserting that the U.S. military can destroy Iran's naval, air, and air defense forces in one day.
China's Foreign Ministry expressed concern over the U.S. seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, stating that normal and legitimate trade should not be disrupted. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun called for the involved parties to refrain from tension escalation and rejected former U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that the ship was carrying a "gift from China."
USAF B-52H heavy bombers remain forward deployed and armed at bases in England during the ongoing ceasefire with Iran.
High-ranking political and military officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran have recently issued unified messages on social media in response to Donald Trump's comments about divisions within the regime, stating their allegiance to Mojtaba Khamenei.
Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, stated that the absence of nuclear experts in negotiations with the Islamic Republic could result in a weaker agreement than the JCPOA. Previously, Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, emphasized the need for IAEA verification at the negotiating table to ensure a real agreement rather than an illusion.
On Tuesday, April 22, 2026, Ismail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, rejected the joint statement issued by Arab foreign ministers following an extraordinary virtual meeting in Bahrain, where the ministers held Iran responsible for damages from the recent crisis over the threat to close the Strait of Hormuz.
Ali Nikzad, Deputy Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, addressed the Persian Gulf countries, accusing them of allowing the U.S. to use their territory against Iran and emphasizing Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz and its nuclear rights.
