The Islamic regime in Iran announced that Tehran has received its first official revenue from transit tolls imposed on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
During a press conference in Berlin, Prince Reza Pahlavi criticized Qalibaf, Araghchi, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, describing them as "faces of the same killing machine" and not pragmatic.
On January 15, 2026, Iranian state TV broadcast footage showing soldiers boarding two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
In Berlin, Iran's exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi criticized Iran's lead negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, stating they are not pragmatists or reformers but rather part of the same regime as the IRGC.
The Deputy Chairman of Iran's Parliamentary Stable announced the first deposit of revenue from extortion in the Strait of Hormuz into the Central Bank's account, despite the country's economic collapse.
Fatih Birol, Director General of the International Energy Agency, described the current situation as "the greatest threat to energy security" in history, citing the blockage of ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz following the war between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States and Israel.
Alireza Abbasi, a representative of Karaj in the Iranian parliament, stated that any negotiations must be limited to compensation payments and management of the Strait of Hormuz, and stressed that the nuclear issue should be removed from the agenda. He also warned that negotiators must not engage in deceptive tactics and should demonstrate resolve, implying that Trump understands only the language of power.
On the morning of an unspecified date in 2025, the IRGC Navy seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz and released footage documenting the operation.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia called for a permanent ceasefire in the conflict between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran, despite an extended ceasefire, and stressed the need for Tehran to resume negotiations and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
White House spokesperson Caroline Levine described the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' seizure of commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz as "pirate-like" behavior. The statement was made during an interview with Ruhollah Rahimpour, a journalist and political analyst.
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.
Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister of Australia, has called for a permanent ceasefire in the Iran war, stating that Australia wants to reduce tensions and end the conflict while advocating for normal economic trade to continue without the Islamic Republic acquiring nuclear weapons.
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.
Lebanese rescue forces recovered the body of Amal Khalil, a Lebanese journalist killed in an Israeli airstrike in the town of Al-Tayri in southern Lebanon, from the rubble on Wednesday.
The newspaper Kian, under the supervision of a representative of the Islamic Republic's leader, wrote: "Part of our demand from Qatar is approximately seven billion dollars. If we halt the maritime trade of such a country by controlling the Strait of Hormuz, they will soon be forced to pay their debt. Why should we hesitate to use this leverage?" The newspaper added: "We can block Qatar's maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz to get the blocked funds back."
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.
Over 100 Basij forces were poisoned and hospitalized in Parand, Tehran, with one death confirmed; the IRGC's public relations arm in Parand has issued a statement downplaying the incident, claiming the poisoning was isolated to the deceased member's home.
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.
