Russia’s Lavrov discussed Strait of Hormuz with Iran’s foreign minister

MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz by telephone with Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday, the Russian foreign ministry said.

A statement on the ministry website said the call had taken place at the initiative of Iran.

“The parties exchanged views on discussions in the U.N. Security Council regarding the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and addressing other consequences of the unprovoked aggression by the U.S. and Israel against Iran,” the statement said.

Lavrov and Araghchi, the statement said, discussed “efforts undertaken by a number of countries to de-escalate tensions”.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the strait was open for Russia.

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“It is open for us,” Ushakov said on Russian state television channel Vesti.

Earlier, British Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper said about 40 countries attending a virtual meeting discussed joint action to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and stop Iran holding “the global economy hostage”.

The meeting took place after U.S. President Donald Trump said securing the waterway was for others to resolve.

The U.S.-Israeli war against Iran has all but halted shipments of about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas through the strait, causing oil supply disruption and soaring prices.

At the end of March, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it opposed Iran’s blockade of the strait, but added that the situation must be viewed “in the context of the broader global situation.”