House Democrat: Russia is ‘real winner’ of Strait of Hormuz blockade by US

Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) on Tuesday said Russia is the “real winner” of the U.S. blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, where a holdup of oil exports has contributed to increased prices across the globe.

Crow questioned the blockade’s end game given that Iran “was already blockading the Straits of Hormuz,” he told CNN’s Kate Bolduan.

“You know who the real winner of a blockade of the Straits of Hormuz is, is Russia,” Crow continued. “Because Russia then has to go in and they can — they‘ll be able to sell more of their oil.”

He called the conflict with Iran “a mess.”

“There‘s no strategy here,” Crow continued. “That‘s the biggest problem. There‘s a series of short-term tactical decisions every two or three days. The Trump Administration rolls out a new idea, a new tactic. But there‘s no strategy, there‘s no end game, and we‘re just going to continue to spin our wheels until they can create some kind of long-term plan.”

The U.S. blockade began at 10 a.m. Monday after Vice President Vance led a U.S. delegation to meet with Iranian officials to secure a peace deal. No agreement was reached after 21 hours of talks. The military said it was using the blockade to halt any vessels that paid tolls to Iran.

The blockade kicked off after the U.S. waiver that allows countries to buy Russian crude expired on April 11, CNBC reported Tuesday. India purchased 1.5 million barrels per day from Russia in March. The U.S. then temporarily allowed all purchases of Russian oil stranded at sea in an attempt to help energy markets stabilize. Experts told the outlet that the U.S. could be forced to extend its waiver to cool down the market before oil prices rise higher.

Oil prices remain high with the U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude at over $91 per barrel on Tuesday, $13 less than where it was on Sunday night. Brent crude remains at just under $95 per barrel after it was $95.20 on Sunday. The national average for gas in the U.S. dipped to $4.19, according to AAA.

Retired Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said the blockade could be “helpful” by drawing Iran to the negotiating table, and would “encourage the Chinese to be more helpful with Iran and get them back to the negotiating table because China certainly is dependent upon oil coming in and out of the Gulf.”

The blockade has not prevented U.S.-sanctioned Chinese ships from passing through the strait amid Iran’s closure of it. One such tanker, Rich Starry, passed through to the Gulf of Oman. Another U.S.-sanctioned Chinese tanker, Murlikishan, traveled through the strait heading in the opposite direction.

U.S. and Iranian officials are expected to hold another round of negotiations as early as this week.

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