Iran arrests political commentator Sadegh Zibakalam

President Donald Trump said the US naval blockade has left Iran unable to pay its military or meet its bills, saying Tehran is doing “zero business” and is “quickly becoming a failed nation.”

In a Truth Social post, Trump described the blockade as “the most successful blockade in the history of naval warfare” and said, “Nothing gets through unless we want it to.”

He called the blockade a “steel wall,” while attacking what he described as the “fake news media” for failing to report its effectiveness.

Trump’s claim that Iran is struggling to pay its military echoes remarks aired in recent days by an Iranian state TV commentator, who also said the Islamic Republic was facing difficulty paying its military forces.

Canada said it remains concerned about disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and warned that respect for international navigation rights through the waterway is essential to stabilizing energy markets and supply chains.

In a statement shared with Iran International, the Canadian government urged all sides to exercise restraint, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and return to diplomacy.

Ottawa said it would continue working with allies and partners to address what it called Iran’s destabilizing actions in the region, including its support for terrorist organizations, ballistic missile and nuclear programs, and systemic human rights violations.

The United States and other nations issued a joint statement condemning Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps-Intelligence Organization, its extra territorial wing Quds Force, and the country’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security for what they called the “lethal plotting and other malign actions in Europe.”

The statement also condemned attacks across Europe targeting Jewish communities, Iranian journalists and US interests.

It said some of the attacks were claimed by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran had taken too long to negotiate a deal and would now “have to pay the price."

"They’ve taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price," he said in a post on Truth Social.

Trump added that Iran's military had been defeated, particularly its navy and air force.

"Iran’s Military is a complete and total mess. Much of it, like their Navy and Air Force, doesn’t even exist anymore. They have been completely defeated. Iran is all talk and no action. The Bully of the Middle East is DEAD," he wrote.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit condemned what he called Iran’s “brutal” missile and drone attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan on Wednesday.

Aboul Gheit said the attacks showed Iran was seeking to escalate its confrontation with Arab states, raising concerns among Arab governments while putting pressure on the international community.

The Arab League said it stood in full solidarity with Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan and called for efforts to reach an agreement that would end the crisis.