- No request received yet from Islamabad: sent.
- Says Iran’s response directed at the US military in the Gulf.
- Russian envoy criticizes the United States and Israel over the Iran crisis.
ISLAMABAD: Russia’s ambassador to Pakistan Albert Khorev has said that Moscow is willing to supply discounted oil to Pakistan, urging the country to take advantage of the opportunity.
At a news conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, Khorev said Moscow would sell discounted oil to Pakistan if Islamabad formally approaches his country on the issue.
However, the Russian ambassador said no formal contact had yet been established on the matter.
The envoy emphasized that the energy sector remains the most important pillar of the two nations’ bilateral cooperation, adding that any progress in the sector will depend on Islamabad initiating engagement.
Pakistan, like many economies around the world, is grappling with rising fuel costs 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 shipping, has been halted after Iran blocked the passage in response to joint attacks by the United States and Israel.
Amid the disruption, Pakistan has increased petrol and diesel prices by a steep 20%, and federal ministers have said the increase is temporary and will be reversed once the conflict subsides.
Meanwhile, the Russian ambassador said Iran’s response in the Middle East was aimed at US military facilities in Gulf waters, but declined to comment further, citing uncertainty.
Khorev said the world was taken aback by US President Donald Trump’s military actions, describing the situation as “complex and unpredictable” and saying it was difficult to say how and when current tensions will end.
He also condemned the attack on a girls’ school in Iran, in which 170 children lost their lives, calling it “very deplorable” and urging 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 escalated the crisis and aimed to weaken its leadership while creating divisions within the Islamic world.
