RUSSIA PERSPECTIVE
GULF CRISIS: WASHINGTON REINSTATES HORMUZ BLOCKADE AS OIL SURGES
Single source
DOMINANT ANGLE
Moscow denounces a unilateral American escalation in the Gulf, which has shattered the June 17 memorandum and threatens to engulf the entire region.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
ANALYSIS
Moscow, July 14, 2026. Over the course of four nights, the US military has struck more than 300 targets in Iran, according to a tally provided by the Pentagon and reported by TASS and Sputnik — a figure that, in the view of Russian diplomacy, illustrates the scope of an operation far larger than a simple "proportional response." It all began with the collapse of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in mid-June between Washington and Tehran: intended to pave the way for a lasting ceasefire, the agreement fell apart as soon as the two capitals mutually accused each other of violating it.
According to TASS, the Ormuz Strait Authority (PSGA) has announced the total closure of the maritime route "due to the illegal actions and military movements of US forces in the region," specifying that it will not reopen until calm is restored. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, cited by RT, has warned that no ship will be allowed to transit until Tehran decides otherwise, and has promised to maintain the blockade "until the illegal US interventions cease."
In retaliation for the US strikes — of which Central Command claims to have hit around 140 targets during the night of July 12 alone, including missile sites, ammunition depots, and radar posts — Iran has targeted US installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, and Oman. The IRGC claims to have destroyed a command center and drone hangars at Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan, as well as Patriot systems and strategic radars in Kuwait, according to RT.
Kommersant notes that the two parties are now exchanging ultimatums without wanting to return to the negotiating table, with control of the Ormuz Strait remaining the main point of disagreement. Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has warned Washington to "keep its word or pay the price," while Tehran describes the US strikes as "war crimes." In the view of Russian diplomacy, this spiral illustrates the risk of a regional flare-up that Moscow is calling to defuse through diplomatic rather than military means — while also noting that the surge in oil prices benefits, in fact, producers not involved in the conflict.
KEY POINTS
- Moscow reports that the Iranian forces struck around 140 targets, with the total number of targets hit this week exceeding 300 across three waves, according to information from CENTCOM cited by Sputnik.
- The Russian government notes that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has closed the Strait of Hormuz since Saturday evening, vowing to keep it closed as long as the US continues its "illegal interventions", as stated by TASS and RT.
- Russian officials confirm that Iranian forces hit American bases in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, including the Prince Hassan Airbase and Al Udeid Airbase, as reported by RT.
COGNITIVE BIASES IDENTIFIED
Russia frames the narrative with an anti-US slant, as Russian sources consistently echo Iran's account of the strikes, labeling them as "war crimes" without providing equal space for the US justification from CENTCOM.
Moscow shows a preference for official Iranian and US sources, such as CENTCOM, IRGC, and Press TV, leaving limited room for civilian testimony or NGO assessments from the field.
Russian economic impact receives scant coverage, with articles detailing the military escalation but largely overlooking the effects of rising oil prices on Russia's budget or its own exports.
SOURCES (1)
TASSCenter
STATE-CONTROLLEDSTATE MEDIA
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