- March 18, 2026
- Posted by: Tresmark
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Russia has expressed willingness to supply oil to Pakistan amid Iran war disruptions, contingent on request.
“We are ready to supply oil to Pakistan if a formal request is made, but so far no such request has been received,” Russian Ambassador Albert P. Khorev told reporters here on Tuesday.
Declaring energy a key avenue for expanding bilateral cooperation, the envoy said Pakistan could benefit from the prevailing global situation caused by Iran war oil disruptions.
On regional tensions, he said Russia maintained long-standing military and technical cooperation with Iran, but described the evolving Middle East situation as complex and uncertain.
Khorev condemned reported US-Israeli airstrikes on civilian targets in Iran, including a strike on a girls’ school, terming them unacceptable, and called for restraint and a return to political and diplomatic engagement in line with the United Nations Charter.
He criticised the use of force against Iran, saying it had escalated the crisis and contributed to regional instability. The ambassador also denounced the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and described the US-Israeli attacks on civilian infrastructure as serious violations of international law.
Referring to the broader conflict involving Iran, the ambassador said the escalation followed US and Israeli actions.
He reiterated Russia’s call for dialogue, respect for sovereignty and consideration of the security interests of all regional states.
On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Khorev said the situation on the front line currently favoured Russian forces amid intensified Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory and civilian infrastructure.
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He said diplomatic contacts were ongoing and that several rounds of talks in 2026 had yielded limited humanitarian progress, including prisoner exchanges.
The ambassador said Russia remained open to a negotiated settlement but any agreement must address the “root causes of the conflict, including Nato’s eastward expansion and Kyiv’s treatment of Russian-speaking populations”.
He appreciated Pakistan for maintaining a “balanced and consistent stance on the Ukrainian issue despite facing enormous external pressure”.
“We hope Pakistan will join us in drafting this strategic document, which is intended to establish the political and legal foundation for an indivisible continental security architecture and a system of cooperation across Eurasia,” he said.
On humanitarian issues, the envoy rejected Western claims that large numbers of Ukrainian children have been forcibly transferred to Russia, saying the figures cited by international organisations did not reflect reality.
He said that during direct talks in 2025, the Ukrainian side had provided a list of 339 children who had lost contact with their families, and efforts were under way to reunite them.
“As of early March 2026, 13 children had been returned to Ukraine through the mediation of Qatar and the Vatican. It is worth noting that the reunification process is happening in both directions. To date, 30 children from 22 families have returned to Russia from Ukraine. In autumn 2025, US First Lady Melania Trump also joined the effort,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.
They discussed latest regional developments and bilateral matters of mutual interest. Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghaddam called on Ishaq Dar. The ambassador expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s strong moral support during the ongoing crisis. Dar conveyed condolences over loss of lives and expressed hope for an early resolution of the issues. He emphasised dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable path to lasting peace and stability in the region.
