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RUSSIA PERSPECTIVE
THE UNITED STATES STRIKES IRAN AGAIN AS TEHRAN DECLARES THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ CLOSED
DOMINANT ANGLE
Moscow views the Strait of Hormuz crisis as the result of an internal power struggle in Tehran between pragmatists and hardliners, rather than a deliberate strategic choice made by the Iranian government.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
ANALYSIS
Moscow, July 12, 2026. Russia's press coverage of the Ormuz Strait crisis relies almost exclusively on leaks from American and Israeli sources, revealing a growing divide in Tehran between proponents of compromise and hardliners. According to Interfax, citing Axios journalist Barak Ravid, the US has given Iran until Saturday to publicly acknowledge that the Ormuz Strait is fully open to navigation and to refrain from any further attacks on commercial ships. "Either they make this statement, or things will end badly for them," a US official warned, as quoted by RIA Novosti.
Meduza, relaying Axios and Reuters, reports that Iranian representatives have privately acknowledged to Washington their responsibility for the recent attacks on tankers, attributing them to "uncontrolled elements of the system." "We were wrong, we made a mistake, let's talk," an Iranian interlocutor allegedly said, according to Reuters. A US administration official mentions an ongoing power struggle between pragmatists and hardliners, with the latter preventing Tehran from regaining full control of the situation.
TASS recalls the context: the open war initiated by the US and Israel on February 28, which cost the life of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in an airstrike, and the ceasefire memorandum signed in June after talks mediated by Qatar and Pakistan in Switzerland. However, US airstrikes resumed on the night of July 8 in retaliation for Iranian fire against ships in the strait. Tehran responded by targeting US installations in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, without hitting Israel so far — although Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohammad-Bagher Zolghadr warned that no strike against Iranian infrastructure would go "without a response against the Zionist entity."
A US official cited by Interfax estimates that the escalation "can last a day, two days, a week, or a month," depending on whether Iran continues its attacks. According to the New York Times, as reported by Interfax, Qatar is currently negotiating with Washington and Tehran to avoid further aggravation of the crisis.
KEY POINTS
- Moscow views the situation as the Iranian government having until Saturday to publicly acknowledge the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and cease firing on ships, according to reports.
- Iranian representatives have privately acknowledged their role in the attacks, attributing them to "uncontrolled elements of the system", indicating a pragmatic vs hardline struggle within the government.
- Tehran has struck US bases in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, and threatens Israel if its infrastructure is targeted, as stated by Iranian officials, including Mohammad-Bagher Zolghadr.
COGNITIVE BIASES IDENTIFIED
Russian sources frame the narrative largely through American and Israeli lenses, often citing Axios, Reuters, and Barak Ravid rather than direct Iranian or Russian sources.
Moscow's perspective focuses on internal Iranian divisions, emphasizing the pragmatic versus hardline struggle, while a broader geopolitical reading of the conflict takes a backseat.
The official Russian stance receives scant coverage, with no comments from the Kremlin or the Foreign Ministry appearing in available articles.
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