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.”

"We stand united in our determination to protect our countries and our people against these threats. The Islamic Republic of Iran must halt these actions now," the statement released by the US Department of State said

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

"Attempts to kill, kidnap, harass, intimidate, or otherwise attack people on our soil, undermines national sovereignty and international norms. These actions must stop immediately," the countries wrote.

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

US President Donald Trump said he was close to ordering new strikes against Iranian power plants and bridges as Tehran was taking too long to make a deal, Fox News reported on Wednesday.

Trump also said an Iranian drone became lodged between the two pilots aboard the US Army Apache helicopter that went down near the coast of Oman on Monday night but did not explode.

“Iranian drone lodged between the two pilots was on fire but did not explode. Pilots brought the helicopter down into the water quickly, not knowing if it would explode,” he said, adding that their survival was a “miracle.”

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.