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Russia Warns of Market Fallout as US Enforces Iran Maritime Blockade

The United States has begun enforcing a sweeping maritime blockade targeting all vessels entering or exiting Iranian ports, a move announced by CENTCOM following a presidential directive. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned that such actions are likely to continue negatively impacting international markets, though many details remain unclear. Meanwhile, Russia announced that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit China for two days of talks with his counterpart Wang Yi. The ministers are set to discuss bilateral cooperation and key international issues, including the Ukrainian crisis and the situation in the Middle East.

Key Points: US Iran Blockade Impact, Russia-China Talks, Strait of Hormuz

  • US enforces maritime blockade on Iranian ports
  • Russia warns of negative market impacts
  • Blockade exempts Strait of Hormuz transit to other nations
  • Russian FM Lavrov to visit China for talks
  • Agenda includes Ukraine crisis and Middle East issues
2 min read

Russian FM to visit China as Moscow admits Hormuz blockade will negatively impact markets

Russia warns US blockade of Strait of Hormuz will hit markets. FM Lavrov heads to China for talks on Ukraine, Middle East crises. CENTCOM enforces maritime restrictions.

"Most likely, such actions will continue to negatively impact international markets - Dmitry Peskov"

Moscow, April 13

Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Monday admitted that the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is likely to impact international markets negatively.

"Most likely, such actions will continue to negatively impact international markets; this can be assumed with a high degree of certainty," the Kremlin spokesman was quoted as saying by Russia's leading Tass news agency during a regular media briefing in Moscow.

Responding to another question, he asserted that details on the US blocking of the Strait of Hormuz remain unclear.

"Many details here remain unclear and incomprehensible, so I would refrain from any substantive comments at this time," Peskov commented on the US threat of blocking the strait.

On Sunday, the United States made it clear that it will begin enforcing a sweeping maritime blockade of vessels entering or exiting Iranian ports from April 13, escalating tensions after high-stakes talks between Washington and Tehran failed to yield agreement on key issues, including Iran's nuclear programme.

The move, announced by US Central Command (CENTCOM), follows a presidential directive and will target "all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports", including those along the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.

"The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations," CENTCOM said, adding that US forces would not impede ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports. The blockade would begin at 7.30 pm IST on Monday, as per a CENTCOM release.

Meanwhile, Moscow announced that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will be visiting Beijing on a two-day visit starting Tuesday.

"On April 14-15, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will make an official visit to the People's Republic of China, where he will hold talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi," the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Monday.

"The two countries' foreign ministers will discuss a wide range of bilateral cooperation issues, prospects for contacts at various levels, and international collaboration, with a focus on joint work within the UN, BRICS, SCO, G20, APEC, and other multilateral mechanisms and forums. A detailed exchange of views is expected on a number of hot topics and regional issues, including the Ukrainian crisis and the situation in the Middle East," it added.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Petrol prices are already so high! 😣 If this blockade affects oil supply, it's going to be a nightmare for the common man. The US-Iran tensions should not become a problem for the whole world. India needs to use its diplomatic channels with both sides to ensure energy security.
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Rahul R
Russia and China meeting right now is no coincidence. They are forming a bloc to counter US influence. While India has good relations with both, we must be careful not to get caught in the middle. Our foreign policy should remain balanced and focused on national interest.
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Sarah B
The article says the blockade is "impartial," but let's be real, it's a major escalation. It feels like the world is constantly on the brink of another crisis. Hoping for de-escalation and dialogue. The common people everywhere suffer the most from these geopolitical games.
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Aditya G
Respectfully, I think our media should focus more on how this impacts India specifically, rather than just reporting the Russia-China angle. The immediate worry is inflation and supply chains. The MEA needs to make a clear statement on how they plan to safeguard our shipments.
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Nikhil C
This is why we need to fast-track our renewable energy goals and reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East will always be a risk. Time for a serious push towards solar and other alternatives. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳

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