An advisor to the Russian president Vladimir Putinstated this Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz remains open for Russiain the midst of the blockade that has interrupted much of the world’s traffic oil y liquefied natural gas through that strategic route.
“It’s open to us”he said on behalf of the Kremlin Yuri Ushakov, in statements to the Russian state channel Get marriedaccording to the agency Interfax. The public agency TASS He also reported the words of the Kremlin advisor.
The statement comes at a time of maximum tension in the area, while the war of the United States and Israel against Iran has practically completely paralyzed the passage of close a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas across the strait, causing supply disruptions and a sharp rise in prices.
At the end of March, the Russian Foreign Ministry He already took a position on the matter. Moscow then expressed its rejection of a Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuzalthough he clarified that the situation had to be analyzed “in the context of the broader global situation”.
Bilateral Iran-Russia
The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrovand his Iranian counterpart, Abás Araqchíspoke this Thursday by phone about the situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran and on matters linked to navigation in the Strait of Hormuzas reported by the Russian Foreign Ministry. During the conversation, both reviewed the evolution of the conflict in the middle east and the attempts of several countries to reduce tension in the region.
The two ministers also exchanged views on the discussions opened in the UN Security Council to reinforce the navigation safety in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the official statement. Moscow framed that debate in the need to confront the consequences of the “unprovoked aggression by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran”a formulation that literally includes the note released by Russia.
In parallel, Iran He assured that he is about to close his draft protocol to establish a new navigation regime in the Strait of Hormuz. Once completed, the text will be treated with Oman to prepare a joint protocol, as explained by the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadto the agency Sputnik. Furthermore, the secretary of the Russian Security Council, Sergei Shoigustated that Moscow has raised several “options” for a peaceful solution to the conflict and that these proposals are already on the table in USA, Israel e Iran.
International pressure
Meanwhile, international pressure increases. Some 40 countries held talks this Thursday on a possible joint action to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and prevent Iran continue to maintain “hostage to the world economy“, as explained by United Kingdom.
The British Foreign Secretary, Yvette Coopervirtually chaired a meeting in which, among others, participated France, Germany, Canada, United Arab Emirates e India. At the opening of the meeting, Cooper accused Tehran of acting with “temerity” by blocking the sea route and warned that this decision is hitting “homes and businesses in all corners of the world”.
“We have seen Iran hijack an international shipping route to hold the global economy hostage“said the head of British diplomacy before the meeting continued behind closed doors.
The meeting was held after US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday night that the strait could be opened.naturally“He then said that ensuring its operation was the responsibility of the countries that depend on that route, thus ignoring an issue that had been fundamental in his speeches over the last three weeks, during which he tried to get support from European countries, without success. According to European sources, this Thursday’s meeting served above all to identify which countries would be willing to join a international coalition and what options diplomatic y economic They exist to pressure Iran.
Although the meeting ended without specific agreements, it did leave a point of consensus: that Iran should not be able to impose transit fees to ships passing through the passage and all countries should be able to use it freely. The next phase of contacts will come next week, when military officials study possible measures, including security tasks. demining and the deployment of a force of protection and support for commercial navigation.
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