Reactions and statements from the international community
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated on Monday that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is crucial for reducing prices in his country and that he is consulting with Britain's partners to achieve this goal.
Israel's Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, warned during an army assessment meeting that Naim Qassem, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, will face severe consequences for his actions, stating, "Hezbollah will pay a heavy price for its aggressions and activities on the Islamic Republic's path to destroy Israel." Katz also accused Qassem of displacing over one million Shiites in their own land while hiding underground.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) posted on its "X" account, sharing a video of fighter jet operations on the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is conducting round-the-clock flight operations and successive strikes near Iran as part of Operation Epic Wrath. Previously, Iranian Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf claimed the carrier was forced to retreat due to missile threats and IRGC speedboats.
Israeli Defense Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that the IDF has commenced a ground operation in Lebanon to eliminate threats and protect Israeli residents in the Galilee and north. The minister warned that Hezbollah would face severe consequences for its aggressive actions aligned with Iran's interests.
The Kremlin declined to comment on a report by Kuwaiti newspaper Al Jarida claiming that Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, underwent a successful operation in Moscow and is recovering in a private clinic. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated, "We do not comment on such reports," when asked about the claims.
Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, stated that the country is engaged in a proud resistance and expects to celebrate victory soon, describing the past year as unprecedented and challenging but dignified. He also asserted that the Strait of Hormuz is open only to non-enemies.
The IDF announced that it had destroyed an aircraft used by the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran. The military stated the plane was utilized for military procurement and managing contacts with allied countries.
On Monday, March 25, 1404 (2025 in the Gregorian calendar), the spokesperson for the IRGC's "Khatam al-Anbiya" Headquarters stated that the presence of the US aircraft carrier "Gerald Ford" in the Red Sea is a threat to the Islamic Republic and claimed the carrier would be a future target for the IRGC.
The Israeli army announced that an aircraft used by Ali Khamenei and other senior officials of the Islamic Republic was destroyed at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran. The statement added that the aircraft was utilized for domestic and foreign trips by officials, as well as for coordinating military purchases and communications with allied countries.
On Monday, the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates was struck for the second time recently, hitting the only outlet for the country that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, according to Bloomberg.
U.S. President Donald Trump has requested several countries to deploy warships to the Strait of Hormuz, but Asian nations have responded cautiously. Details are provided in a report by Iran International correspondent Alireza Mohammadi.
Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, posted on X on March 25, 2025, demanding the trial of Israel for attacking the country's "fuel depots" in Tehran, which he described as a violation of international laws and ecocide.
