Iran has dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration about blocking the Strait of Hormuz as a bluff. The statement came from a spokesperson of Iran’s parliamentary national security commission, who said the threat does not align with reality and could further complicate the situation. Security official Ebrahim Rezaei warned that Tehran is prepared to respond if the situation turns military.

In a post on X, Rezaei added that such decisions would destabilize global markets and hinted that Iran possesses strategies not yet deployed but could be used if necessary. The report, cited by CBS News through BBC’s U.S. partner, highlighted growing tensions between the United States and Iran over the strategic waterway.

The escalating rhetoric has raised concerns that the standoff around the Strait of Hormuz could intensify, affecting regional stability and global trade routes, according to the report.

The Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic armed group in Myanmar, has declared its goal to achieve “final victory” and take full control of Rakhine State by 2027. The announcement was made by Major General Twan Mrat Naing, the group’s leader, during the AA’s 17th founding anniversary on Friday, according to Myanmar Now. Since launching its offensive in late 2023, the AA has captured 14 townships in Rakhine and Paletwa in southern Chin State, leaving only three townships—Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, and Manaung—under junta control.

In his anniversary address, Naing reaffirmed the group’s determination to continue fighting Myanmar’s military junta alongside allied forces. The AA is part of the Brotherhood Alliance, which began “Operation 1027” in Shan State shortly before the Rakhine offensive. The group has also established administrative, judicial, educational, and healthcare systems in areas under its control.

Despite these gains, ongoing air and naval attacks by junta forces have displaced large numbers of civilians, raising humanitarian concerns across the region.

The United States has officially begun a naval blockade to halt all maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports. According to the U.S. military, the blockade took effect at 14:00 GMT. The move has drawn widespread international criticism, including from several U.S. allies, following reports by Al Jazeera. A U.S. official stated that the military is prepared to enforce and maintain the blockade but has not yet defined procedures for potential violations.

Iran has condemned the action as illegal under international maritime law and described it as an act of piracy. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that any warship approaching the Strait of Hormuz would be treated as a breach of the current ceasefire. The blockade comes at a time when the strait, a key global energy route, has previously faced closures under Iranian leadership.

The move has received little support from U.S. allies. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom does not support the blockade, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of restoring freedom of navigation.

Tehran University researcher Mohammad Eslami has described any potential US move to block Iran’s ports as extremely difficult and risky. He said halting tankers and supertankers across such vast waterways would pose a major operational challenge for the US military. According to Eslami, Iran would take any such action very seriously.

Eslami emphasized that Iran is already under intense military and economic pressure from the United States and Israel, and it does not want disruptions to the supply of food and other essential goods. He added that Tehran seeks to send a strong message to Washington, even as most parties are looking for a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

Commenting on the possibility of closing the Strait of Hormuz, Eslami said it would be a very significant step for both sides, potentially making the situation more complex and dangerous.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel will support U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a naval blockade against Iran. According to the report, U.S. Central Command stated that the blockade would take effect from 8 p.m. Bangladesh time, targeting vessels heading toward Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

Netanyahu also said that U.S. Vice President JD Vance briefed him after returning from Pakistan about recent discussions with Iran, which ended without any final agreement. Meanwhile, Iran warned that any military ship advancing toward the Strait of Hormuz would be considered a violation of the ceasefire.

The developments come amid heightened regional tensions, with the blockade expected to affect maritime routes and diplomatic relations in the Gulf region.

Russia has strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement to block the Strait of Hormuz. According to Moscow, implementing such a move would negatively affect the global energy market. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said several aspects of Trump’s declaration remain unclear and warned that such a decision could destabilize world markets.

The U.S. military stated that all vessel movements from Iranian ports would be halted as scheduled, with the blockade set to take effect at 10 a.m. Washington time. If enforced, the measure could prevent around two million barrels of Iranian oil per day from entering the global market, potentially worsening the ongoing energy crisis.

Shipping data indicated that two Iran-linked tankers had already crossed the Strait of Hormuz before the blockade’s start time. The situation has heightened tensions in the Middle East and raised concerns about its impact on the global economy.

Pope Leo XIV has declared that he will remain steadfast in his anti-war position despite sharp criticism from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Speaking to journalists aboard a flight to Algeria, the Pope said he is not afraid of the Trump administration and will continue to advocate for peace worldwide. He emphasized that he does not wish to engage in debate with Trump but expressed regret that the message of Christianity is being misused in some cases.

Leo reiterated his commitment to speak strongly against war, calling for peace, dialogue, and the strengthening of multilateral relations among nations to find fair solutions. He lamented the loss of innocent lives and stressed that someone must stand up to say there is a better way.

The Pope, the first American to hold the position, began a ten-day visit to four African countries as part of his mission to promote peace and interfaith understanding.

Several countries have issued statements in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to blockade Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz. Spain’s Defense Minister Margarita Robles delivered the strongest criticism, saying the proposal made no sense. China urged calm and restraint, emphasizing that keeping the strait open serves the common interests of the international community. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) called for a full and effective ceasefire implementation and the protection of maritime and air navigation freedom.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France and the United Kingdom will organize a conference in the coming days to restore freedom of navigation in the strait. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the United Kingdom does not support any blockade. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed the importance of navigation freedom in the Strait of Hormuz and called for strong coordination among EU member states.

The coordinated responses highlight growing international concern over regional stability and the potential impact of U.S. actions on global maritime security.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has warned that Israel could identify Turkey as its next adversary. In an interview with Turkey’s state news agency Anadolu, Fidan said Israel is a state that cannot sustain itself without an enemy, suggesting that after Iran, Turkey might become its next target. His remarks were reported by Al Jazeera on April 13, 2026.

Fidan also discussed ongoing talks between Iran and the United States, noting that despite Pakistan’s mediation, no agreement has been reached. However, he said both sides remain sincere about achieving a ceasefire. He cautioned that if the nuclear issue, particularly uranium enrichment, becomes an all-or-nothing matter, it could create major complications and stall progress in the negotiations.

According to Fidan, the current situation risks heightening tensions across the Middle East and could push the involved parties toward diplomatic deadlock.

Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have welcomed the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, describing it as a step toward a lasting solution and regional stability. In a joint statement, the ten-member bloc highlighted the global importance of energy flows and trade routes and called for the restoration of safe, uninterrupted navigation for ships and aircraft through the Strait of Hormuz. The ministers also urged all parties to ensure the safety of sailors and vessels in accordance with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

The ASEAN ministers praised Pakistan and other involved parties for their mediation efforts and encouraged Washington and Tehran to continue dialogue aimed at a permanent resolution of the conflict. They emphasized the importance of upholding international law, maintaining regional peace and prosperity, and promoting sincere dialogue and diplomacy.

The statement noted that although Southeast Asia holds significant fossil fuel reserves, the region remains heavily dependent on imported oil and gas, much of which passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Legal Medicine Organization has reported that 3,375 people have been killed in the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel. The organization’s head, Abbas Masjedi, stated that the deaths were identified through scientific and specialized methods during what he described as an imposed war. The information was cited by Iran’s state news agency IRNA, according to AFP.

Masjedi detailed that among the dead, 2,875 were men and 496 were women, but he did not specify how many were adults or children. The report underscores the difficulty of verifying the true number of casualties in Iran due to restricted access to affected areas and limitations on independent reporting.

AFP noted that it could not independently confirm the casualty figures because of the challenges in gathering information from the sites of the attacks.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran came 'very close' to reaching a potential agreement with the United States during talks held in Islamabad. He said Iran entered the discussions with goodwill, but the negotiations collapsed due to Washington’s refusal to make concessions, repeated changes in stance, and multiple forms of pressure.

In a social media post, Araghchi described the meeting as the highest-level dialogue between the two countries in 47 years, aimed at ending the ongoing war. He said Iran was only 'inches away' from signing the 'Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding' before encountering obstacles. Araghchi added that goodwill should be met with goodwill, while hostility only breeds hostility.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed Araghchi’s remarks, saying diplomatic progress with Washington remains possible if the United States abandons what he called an 'authoritarian' attitude and respects Iran’s rights.

The United Kingdom has announced it will not participate in any United States-led initiative to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, according to a BBC report published on April 13, 2026. A spokesperson for the UK government stated that the country opposes imposing any tolls on the vital maritime route and is instead working to form an international coalition to safeguard freedom of navigation.

The spokesperson emphasized that maintaining open access to the Strait of Hormuz is essential for the global economy and for controlling living costs. The UK is collaborating with France and other partners to establish a broad alliance aimed at ensuring maritime security in the region. The statement comes amid heightened tensions surrounding one of the world’s most critical energy transport routes.

The UK’s position underscores its commitment to maritime freedom and multilateral cooperation rather than unilateral actions in the strategically significant waterway.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that NATO has agreed to assist in clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz. He made the statement in an interview with Fox News following warnings about a possible blockade of the vital maritime route. Trump said the United States had previously been frustrated with NATO but now welcomed its support in ensuring the waterway remains open.

According to Trump, the mine-clearing operation will not take long, and the strait will soon reopen for shipping. He confirmed that the United States is deploying mine-removal vessels and that the United Kingdom and several other NATO member countries are also sending minesweepers to participate in the operation.

The report also noted that Russia strongly criticized Trump’s earlier blockade announcement, while Pope Leo maintained a firm anti-war stance despite Trump’s criticism. The issue has drawn global reactions, reflecting heightened international concern over stability in the region.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Iraq’s ambassador on Sunday to deliver a formal protest following allegations that attacks were launched from Iraqi territory against Saudi Arabia. According to state media reports, the ministry condemned and protested what it described as assaults originating from Iraq targeting Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. The Saudi Press Agency released a statement and a photo of the meeting between the ambassador and Saudi officials.

The statement marks one of the first formal complaints in the region suggesting that recent attacks on Gulf states may have been carried out from Iraq amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. The diplomatic move came just days after similar accusations were made by the United States.

The report also noted that Iraq has been drawn into the broader conflict, with repeated attacks targeting U.S. interests and Iran-aligned groups within its borders. Iran-backed armed factions in Iraq had claimed daily strikes on “enemy bases” but announced a suspension of operations following a temporary truce between Iran and the United States.