“If Hormuz is open, why seek Russian diesel?” Iran’s Baghaei questions Washington’s claim that the strait has lost its leverage

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei used a U.S.-Russia diesel agreement to challenge Washington’s position that the Strait of Hormuz has lost its leverage. At a weekly press briefing, he asked: “If the Strait of Hormuz is open, why has the United States reached out to Russia for diesel?”

Baghaei described the fuel agreement as a matter between Washington and Moscow, adding that every country makes decisions in its own interests and Iran would do the same. But he argued that the U.S. move suggested the strait remained important.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on October 9 that Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 metric tons of diesel to U.S. and global markets. He also outlined further shipments, including 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons afterward. The deal is intended to ease high diesel prices, which have become a domestic political issue ahead of the November midterm elections.

The agreement followed a discussion between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The U.S. Treasury issued a temporary license for Russian diesel shipments to the global market.