Russia: The Strait of Hormuz is open to us, says Putin's advisor

On April 2, 2026, Yuri Ushakov, the foreign policy advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, stated that the Strait of Hormuz is open for Russia. This statement was made during a broadcast on the state television channel Vesti, according to the Interfax agency. The declaration comes in the context of the war between the USA and Israel and Iran, which has led to the near-total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by the regime in Tehran. This strait is crucial as it represents the exit route from the Persian Gulf to the ocean for ships transporting oil and liquefied gas, with approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passing through this route. The blockade imposed by Iran has caused severe global fuel supply issues, leading to a rapid increase in prices. At the end of March 2026, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that it opposes the Iranian blockade but emphasized that it must be analyzed in the context of the broader global situation.