Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has halted entirely after Iran blocked the vital waterway in retaliation for joint U.S. and Israeli strikes, raising fears of a severe global oil crisis
By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Russia has told Pakistan it stands ready to supply discounted oil, but only if Islamabad makes a formal approach first. The offer comes as global energy markets reel from the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Moscow’s ambassador to Pakistan, Albert P Khorev, addressed reporters in Islamabad on Tuesday. He made clear that the ball was now in Pakistan’s court. The energy sector, he said, remained the most important pillar of bilateral cooperation between the two nations. To his knowledge, no official contact had yet been made by Pakistani authorities regarding oil purchases.
Pakistan is grappling with soaring fuel costs. Supply chains have been severely disrupted by the hostilities in the region. Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil transport, has ground to a halt. Iran blocked the passage in response to joint strikes by the United States and Israel.
The Pakistani government has already raised petrol and diesel prices by 20 per cent. Ministers have assured the public the increase is temporary and will be reversed once the situation stabilises.
Ambassador Khorev condemned the recent attack on a girls’ school in the Iranian city of Minab. Reports indicate 170 children were killed. He described the strike as highly deplorable and called on all parties to exercise restraint.
The Russian envoy said Iran’s military response was directed at US military installations in Gulf waters. He stressed the need to distinguish between military operations and civilian harm.
Khorev offered a stark assessment of the wider crisis. He said the world had been taken aback by what he described as military adventurism under Donald Trump. The current situation, he added, was complex and unpredictable. It was difficult to forecast how or when the conflict would end.
The ambassador urged all sides to resolve their disputes through political and diplomatic channels, in line with the United Nations Charter. He also addressed Russia’s long-standing military and technical cooperation with Tehran. His comments underscored Moscow’s delicate balancing act, as it seeks to deepen ties with Pakistan while maintaining its strategic partnership with Iran.
