- No requests received from Islamabad yet: sent.
- Says Iran’s response directed against the US military in the Gulf.
- Russian envoy criticizes US and Israel over Iran crisis.
ISLAMABAD: Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Albert Khorev said Moscow is ready to supply discounted oil to Pakistan, urging the country to take advantage of the opportunity.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, Khorev said Moscow would sell oil at a discount to Pakistan if Islamabad formally contacted his country on the matter.
However, the Russian ambassador said that no formal contact had yet been made on the matter.
The envoy stressed that the energy sector remained the most important pillar of bilateral cooperation between the two countries, adding that any progress in the sector would depend on Islamabad’s commitment.
Pakistan, like many economies around the world, is grappling with rising fuel prices as supply chains are disrupted by ongoing hostilities in the Middle East.
Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz – a key route for global oil transport – came to a halt after Iran blocked the passage in response to joint strikes by the United States and Israel.
Amid the disruption, Pakistan has increased petrol and diesel prices by 20%, with federal ministers saying the increase is temporary and will be reversed once the conflict subsides.
Separately, the Russian ambassador said Iran’s response in the Middle East was directed at U.S. military installations in Gulf waters, but declined further comment, citing uncertainty.
Khorev said the world had been surprised by US President Donald Trump’s military actions, calling the situation “complex and unpredictable” and saying it was difficult to say how and when the current tensions would end.
He also condemned the attack on a girls’ school in Iran, in which 170 children lost their lives, calling it “highly deplorable” and calling on all parties to exercise restraint.
He called on all parties to avoid the use of force and resolve issues through political and diplomatic means, in accordance with the United Nations Charter.
The Russian envoy further criticized the actions of the United States and Israel, saying their use of force against Iran had intensified the crisis and aimed to weaken its leadership while creating divisions within the Islamic world.
