Reactions and statements from the international community
The UK Ministry of Defence announced the deployment of mine countermeasures vessels and military divers to the Strait of Hormuz as part of a multinational mission to conduct potential mine clearance operations.
Panama's Foreign Ministry condemned the seizure of the ship MSC Francesca, flying Panama's flag, by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as it passed through the Strait of Hormuz on April 21, describing it as an illegal act that violates international laws and threatens maritime security.
The UK Ministry of Defence announced that military divers are prepared to conduct mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, as part of efforts to secure the strategic waterway. Officials from the UK and France have called for the immediate, unconditional, and complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial for global trade and energy security, and are planning a multinational defense mission involving more than 30 countries.
The British Ministry of Defence announced that military divers trained in mine neutralization and clearance are preparing to conduct operations in the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, alongside unmanned systems.
The UK Ministry of Defence announced on January 15, 2026, that it is preparing military divers and Royal Navy specialists for potential mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz, alongside unmanned systems and advanced mine-detection technologies, in response to escalating tensions.
Ahmad Diniyemali, the Minister of Sports and Youth of the Islamic Republic of Iran, confessed to the severing of hands and feet of IRGC missile operators in response to attacks by the United States and Israel, and also declared his opposition to the national football team's participation in the upcoming World Cup.
Ahmad Dini Mali, the Minister of Sports and Youth in Masoud Pezeshkian's government, cited the attacks by the United States and Israel on the Islamic Republic and referenced the amputations of IRGC missile launcher operators, expressing his personal opposition to the Iranian national football team participating in the upcoming World Cup.
U.S. Central Command reported that U.S. forces have directed 31 vessels to turn around or return to port as part of the U.S. blockade against Iran.
On December 15, 2025, an IRGC gunboat illegally seized a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.
The IRGC released a video showing its forces seizing a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz. In the video, IRGC Navy personnel are seen using a speedboat to board and take control of a cargo ship.
Morad Vaisi, a senior analyst at Iran International, stated that former U.S. President Donald Trump aimed to show that his policies, including maximum pressure, weakened Iran's nuclear, missile, and proxy networks more effectively than the JCPOA established during the Obama administration.
White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre announced that despite the ceasefire extension in military operations, President Donald Trump is maintaining "maximum pressure" on Iran through economic sanctions and a naval blockade, causing $500 million in daily economic damage. Jean-Pierre noted ongoing divisions within Iran's power structure and warned that U.S. pressure will continue if no agreement is reached.
