The Kremlin on Monday voiced criticism of a U.S. announcement that American forces would block vessel movement to and from Iranian ports via the Strait of Hormuz, saying the measure would exert a negative influence on global markets.
The U.S. military said it would begin preventing ships from entering and leaving Iran's ports at 10 a.m. ET (1400 GMT) on Monday. Officials indicated the step would stop approximately two million barrels of Iranian crude from reaching world markets each day, tightening available supply.
Responding to questions from reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the step is likely to continue to harm international markets. He was quoted as saying:
"Such actions will likely continue to negatively impact international markets. This can be assumed with a high degree of certainty,"
Peskov declined to elaborate further, noting that many specifics of the U.S. plan remained unclear. His remarks signaled Moscow's view that the announced U.S. operation could have palpable market consequences even as the operational details and scope were not fully disclosed.
What is known from the U.S. announcement is limited to the timing and the stated operational goal of blocking vessel traffic to and from Iranian ports, and the estimated effect on crude volumes leaving Iran. The reported prevention of roughly two million barrels per day from entering world markets was described as a development that would further tighten global supply.
The Kremlin's public statement focused on the potential market fallout rather than on operational or military details. Peskov's refusal to comment further underlined the uncertainty surrounding the execution and wider implications of the U.S. measure.
Takeaway - The announcement and Moscow's reaction together underscore two immediate facts: the U.S. says it will act to block Iran's port access at a specified time, and the Kremlin views that action as likely to be detrimental to international markets. Beyond those points, many details remain unspecified and the Kremlin declined to provide further comment.