MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday said the resumption of fighting between the US and Iran had dealt a serious blow to prospects for resolving the conflict as per the Islamabad memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington.
Speaking at a press conference following talks with Chadian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul, Lavrov said the renewed military action had effectively closed the diplomatic window opened by the agreement, TASS news agency reported.
“The most important thing is that this does not lead to a resolution. This closes the door that the Islamabad memorandum of understanding seemed to have opened,” Lavrov said in response to a question.
Lavrov said Moscow viewed the renewed strikes as a violation of the memorandum of understanding reached between Tehran and Washington.
The Islamabad MoU was signed on June 18 by US President Donald Trump, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after Pakistan brokered a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
Under the Islamabad MoU, the US and Iran committed to halt military operations, reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping and negotiate a comprehensive agreement covering Iran’s nuclear programme, US sanctions and a permanent ceasefire within 60 days.
The Russian foreign minister expressed concern over the humanitarian impact of the renewed conflict, saying civilian infrastructure in Iran and facilities in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries were being affected.
“It is regrettable because civilian infrastructure in Iran is suffering, as are civilian facilities in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. This will not lead to anything positive,” Lavrov said.
His remarks came amid renewed military exchanges between the United States and Iran that have intensified regional tensions and raised concerns over the prospects for a diplomatic settlement.
The US launched a third night of strikes on Iran as President Donald Trump announced to reimpose a naval blockade on Iranian ports and floated a 20 percent fee on cargo in the vital Strait of Hormuz.
Iran started blocking the strait after US-Israel attacks in February, which prompted Washington’s blockade on Tehran’s ports — but restrictions eased after the sides agreed a preliminary deal in June.
China urges US, Iran to restore safe passage through Hormuz
China on Tuesday called on the United States and Iran to restore safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
“Restoring normal and safe passage through the strait as soon as possible is a shared aspiration of the international community,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a regular news briefing.
The spokesperson said Beijing would continue to make “unremitting efforts to help de-escalate” the situation.
On Monday, China called for the Strait of Hormuz to remain open to international navigation, urging all parties to ensure the “free and safe passage” of vessels through the strategic waterway.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the situation in the Strait of Hormuz should be “properly handled”.
“The Strait of Hormuz is a strait for international navigation. Resuming free and safe passage in the strait at an early date serves the interests of all sides,” Lin said.
He added that China stood ready to work with relevant countries and the international community to maintain communication and promote regional stability.
Tankers hit in separate incidents
Norwegian shipping company Stolt-Nielsen said its chemical tanker Stolt Magnesium caught fire early Tuesday after an “explosion of an unidentified external device” while sailing in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Oman.
Its subsidiary, Stolt Tankers, said the explosion occurred at about 12:40 a.m. local time in the vessel’s engine room. All crew members were safe and accounted for, and efforts to extinguish the fire were underway.
The location matched an earlier report by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which said it had received information about an incident approximately 40 nautical miles northeast of Oman’s Qalhat.
Separately, UKMTO reported that a tanker was struck by a missile around 13 nautical miles southeast of Oman’s Limah while transiting the southern outbound shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz on July 13.
UKMTO WARNING 087-26 – ATTACK
Click here to view the full warning ⤵️ https://t.co/K9ry6dSGTe#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/KyMMsk7AqZ
— UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) July 14, 2026
In another attack, two United Arab Emirates crude oil tankers — Mombasa B and Al Bahyah — were struck by Iranian cruise missiles while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to UAE authorities.
The UAE Ministry of Defence said the attack killed one Indian crew member aboard the Mombasa B and injured eight others, including six Indians and two Ukrainians, four of them seriously.
The strikes also caused significant damage to both vessels and triggered onboard fires, which were later brought under control.
The Ministry of Defence announces that the national tankers Mombasa and Al Bahiyah were targeted by two Iranian cruise missiles while transiting the southern shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz, within Omani territorial waters.
The attack resulted in the death of one Indian… pic.twitter.com/i1HrXY0fKP
— وزارة الدفاع |MOD UAE (@modgovae) July 13, 2026
The ministry described the attack as a “blatant assault” and “a serious violation and clear breach of international law.” It said the UAE reserved the right to take “all necessary measures” to protect its sovereignty, citizens and national interests.
US intensifies military campaign
The United States said it had completed a third consecutive night of military operations against Iranian targets.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the latest operation began at 4:45 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday and concluded about five hours later.
At 4:45 p.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command began launching the third consecutive night of strikes against Iran, at the Commander in Chief's direction. These strikes will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and…
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 13, 2026
According to CENTCOM, US forces conducted precision strikes against Iranian military facilities in Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa and Bandar Abbas. The targets included coastal defence systems, missile and drone installations, and maritime capabilities that Washington said had been used to threaten commercial shipping.
The US military said the operation was intended to further reduce Iran’s ability to attack civilian vessels operating in the Strait of Hormuz.
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 14, 2026
CENTCOM added that more than 50,000 US personnel remained deployed across the Middle East and that American forces remained “vigilant, lethal and ready” to respond to further developments.
Speaking at the White House on Monday, US President Donald Trump said American forces were “hitting them very heavy tonight.”
“We’re knocking out all of their offensive capability, and we’re controlling the strait,” Trump said, adding that the United States was reinstating a naval blockade directed solely at Iran.
Iran’s military responded by warning that it would not allow the United States to “interfere” in the management of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump notifies Congress of resuming war
Meanwhile, the White House said that President Trump had formally notified Congress that war against Iran resumed on July 7.
In a letter dated July 10, Trump said he had ordered military action in accordance with his constitutional responsibility to protect American citizens and safeguard US national security and foreign policy interests.
“I directed this military action consistent with my responsibility to protect Americans and United States’ national security and foreign policy interests,” Trump wrote.
The letter outlined previous administration actions, including a two-week ceasefire announced on April 7 and subsequent diplomatic efforts to secure a negotiated settlement.
Under the US War Powers Resolution, the notification establishes a new 60-day period during which the administration says it can continue military operations without additional congressional authorisation.
The latest military exchanges, coupled with attacks on commercial shipping, have heightened concerns about the security of international energy supplies and the risk of a wider regional conflict centred on the Strait of Hormuz.
