MOSCOW. June 17 (Interfax) - Russia is not planning to increase its military presence in the Hormuz Strait following the recent incident with the attack on oil tankers, the newspaper Izvestia reported, citing Russian State Duma Defense Committee head Vladimir Shamanov.
"I don't see any reasons to introduce extra forces to protect our vessels passing through the Hormuz Strait," the paper quoted Shamanov as saying.
The strait has strategic significance for the entire global oil market as up to 40% of the world' hydrocarbons is exported through it, Shamanov told the paper. However, the Hormuz Strait is much less significant to Russia because it has its own hydrocarbons export channels. Therefore, the presence of Russian warships to protect navigation in the strait is not so large.
The paper earlier reported, citing an official with the Norwegian oil-loading company
Frontline, whose vessel Front Altair was hurt in the Iranian territorial waters, that all tankers passing through the Hormuz Strait would be provided with extra protection following the incident in the Gulf of Oman and patrolling would be intensified in the region.
The Iranian and Arab media reported on Thursday that two oil tankers, Front Altair and Kokuka Courageous, had been attacked in the Gulf of Oman. There is information that there was a torpedo attack, which caused explosions and a fire on the vessels. However, there is no official confirmation that that was the cause of the incidents. The crews of the damaged vessels were evacuated to Iran, According to the owner of one of the tankers, the Front Altair was carrying 11 Russians, none of them were hurt.