Russia Condemns Strike on Iran’s Bandar Anzali Port, Warns of Caspian Escalation

Overview

• Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned the March 18 bomb attack on the Iranian port of Bandar Anzali, calling it a dangerous expansion of strikes into Iran.
• Officials described Bandar Anzali as a key logistics hub for Russian‑Iranian trade, including food shipments, and part of the International North‑South Transport Corridor.
• Moscow said the strike harmed the economic interests of Russia and other Caspian states and cited over 7.5 million tonnes moved on the trans‑Caspian route by end‑2025.
• The ministry warned the action risks drawing Caspian littoral states into armed conflict, challenging the sea’s long‑treated status as a zone of peace and cooperation.
• Russia blamed the United States and Israel for widening strikes in Iran, while local reports described the Bandar Anzali hit as an Israeli‑American operation that has not been independently verified.