Patrushev: America’s approach towards Iran is the return of “gunboat diplomacy”.

According to RCO News Agency, “Nikolay Patrushev”, assistant to the Russian president and head of the country’s maritime council, said that the developments surrounding Venezuela and Iran indicate the return of “gunboat diplomacy”, but the hegemony of the West in the sea is largely a thing of the past.

“Events show that the sea will once again become a springboard for military aggression,” Rianavosti News agency reported. The old practice of gunboat diplomacy is returning, as evidenced by the developments in Venezuela or the events surrounding Iran.

Patrushev’s statements about the developments surrounding Iran come after the United States and Iran held indirect talks on red lines and their plans to continue nuclear talks and lift sanctions in Muscat on 17 Bahman, with the mediation of Oman. The second round of these negotiations will be held today, 28th of February, in Geneva, with the mediation of Oman.

Washington has said that Iran’s missile program, its internal issues and Iran’s role in the region should also be resolved in any negotiations with Iran. Although Iran has emphasized that its defense capability is not negotiable and is ready to discuss only about its nuclear program from an equal position.

US President Donald Trump, who has deployed a fleet and additional military equipment in West Asia, has said that his plan is to negotiate with Iran, but also in line with his dual approach known as “peace through strength”, he has limited the opportunity for diplomacy and threatened military action.

However, the Iranian authorities have warned that their defense of the country’s national interests and territorial integrity against any aggression will be decisive and comprehensive.

BRICS naval exercise in 2026

In another part of this conversation about the Will for Peace 2026 naval exercise with the participation of Russia, China, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa, Patrushev said in January: “In January, the first BRICS naval exercise titled Will for Peace 2026 was successfully held in the South Atlantic Ocean. “The navies of these countries practiced cooperation in protecting trade routes that are now increasingly vulnerable, including to Western piracy.”

Europe is testing the threshold of Russian patience

In another part of this conversation, this senior Russian official stated that the Europeans are testing the threshold of Russia’s patience by implementing plans for a naval blockade of Russia and inciting active retaliatory measures, and if Moscow does not respond to the West’s maritime piracy attacks, the British, French and even the Baltic countries will be so brazen that they will try to block Russia’s access to the sea, at least in the Atlantic Ocean.

Patrushev emphasized that the Russian Navy should always maintain significant capabilities in important maritime areas to moderate the behavior of Western countries.

He added that the first step would be to respond to possible attempts to blockade Russia through political, diplomatic and legal mechanisms.

NATO preparations in the Baltic region to carry out offensive operations against Russia

The assistant to the Russian president also said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is creating a multinational force in the Baltic region to carry out offensive operations against Russia, which will certainly complicate the situation in the region.

Saying that NATO’s plans include the blockade of the Kaliningrad region and the seizure of Russian merchant ships, Patrushev added that NATO’s plans include sabotaging the underwater communication and telecommunication infrastructure in the Baltic Sea in order to later blame Russia.

He added: Finland is receiving combat frigates and weapons that are capable of targeting the northwestern regions of Russia.

The senior Russian official also said there was widespread evidence of Western intent to target more Russian merchant ships, indicating that these countries were seeking to cripple Russia’s foreign trade.

Russia breaks the possible naval blockade of the West

In another part of the conversation with this media, Patrushev stated that if the European countries do not cancel the potential naval blockade against Russia in a peaceful way, the Russian Navy will destroy it.

He added that the concept of “shadow fleet” used by the European Union for ships linked to Russia is a legal illusion. The aide of the Russian president warned that with this procedure, Russia may also show interest in the cargo of many EU-flagged ships.

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