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Brent price down almost 12% after Iran announces opening of Strait of Hormuz

The price of futures contracts of WTI crude oil for June 2026 delivery was down by 10.58% at $81.52 per barrel

MOSCOW, April 17. /TASS/. The price of futures contracts of Brent crude oil for June 2026 delivery has fallen by almost 12% on London's ICE following the statement by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that Iran had opened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial ships amid the ceasefire in Lebanon, according to trading data.

As of 3:25 p.m. Moscow time (12:25 p.m. GMT), before Iranian Foreign Minister’s statement, the Brent price was down by 5.06% at $94.36 a barrel.

By 3:53 p.m. Moscow time (12:53 p.m. GMT), following the statement, the price of Brent futures contracts had extended losses to 8.54% as it reached $90.9 per barrel, having declined below $91 per barrel first since April 8, 2026.

As of 3:55 p.m. Moscow time (12:55 p.m. GMT) the Brent price was down by 9.93% at $89.52 a barrel, having fallen below $90 per barrel first since March 11, 2026. By 4:11 p.m. Moscow time (1:11 p.m. GMT) the price of Brent futures contracts had extended losses to 11.75% as it reached $87.71 per barrel, having declined below $88 per barrel first since March 11.

As of 4:18 p.m. Moscow time (1:18 p.m. GMT) the Brent price was down by 10.06% at $89.39 a barrel. Meanwhile, the price of futures contracts of WTI crude oil for June 2026 delivery was down by 10.58% at $81.52 per barrel.

Iran has opened the Strait of Hormuz to all commercial vessels for the remainder of the ceasefire, Araghchi said, adding that vessels will transit the strait via the route agreed upon with Tehran.

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The company said that Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland had net withdrawals on April 14, while gas was lifted from the single UGS in Baltic countries on April 15

Lebanese army confirms ceasefire violations by Israel

The armed forces warned residents of the country’s southern regions against returning to their homes

Fishing vessel with Russian crew arrested in Namibia — Russian Embassy

The Russian Embassy in Namibia stressed that it is proactively interacting with government authorities for the soonest possible resolution of the occurred problem

Russian Security Council warns negotiations could mask planning for Iran strike

The Pentagon continues to increase US troop numbers in the region, the Russian Security Council said

Kiev did not demonstrate a will for peace during the Easter truce — Russian MFA

Maria Zakharova recalled that Zelensky never gave the order to cease fire, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces violated the silence regime more than 6,000 times

Russian gas crucial for preserving Europe’s industry — envoy

Kirill Dmitriev made the comment in response to a post by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who said that Slovakia is filing a lawsuit with the Court of Justice of the European Union over the ban on imports of Russian gas

Russia’s T-90M tank destroys Ukrainian strongholds in Zaporozhye Region

After completing the combat mission, the tank crew quickly withdrew and left the firing position

Russia goes from drone zero to drone hero — Medvedev

Speaking at a meeting with the expert council on the preparation of the party’s national program, the politician noted that drones had become one of the most pressing issues these days

US delays arms supplies to EU amid operation in Iran — Reuters

According to sources cited by the news agency, several EU countries, including Baltic and Scandinavian states, were affected

Regular rotation of IAEA inspectors takes place at Zaporozhye nuke plant

The rotation of IAEA experts took place normally

Shoigu reminds Baltic states of Russia’s right to self-defense over Ukrainian UAV attacks

The Russian Security Council secretary emphasized that significant damage is caused to civilian infrastructure

Air defenses down 95 Ukrainian drones over past 24 hours — governor

There were no fatalities resulting from the Ukrainian attacks

Trump says Iran ready to hand over uranium from facilities attacked last year

According to the president, the US and Iran "have a lot of agreement"

US’ blockade of Hormuz illegal, escalates conflict — Russian Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova stressed that Washington's actions contribute to further escalation of the conflict and lead to corresponding economic consequences

EU intends to prolong Ukraine conflict until 2030 — Belgian defense chief

Russia will not attack Europe, Frederik Vansina noted

Medvedev asserts no one will ‘let Trump take all the oil everywhere’

On March 30, the US leader said, speaking about Iran, that his "preference would be to take the oil"

US, Iran may sign agreement soon — Reuters

According to the source, the two sides have made progress in backdoor diplomacy and an upcoming meeting between them could result in the signing of an agreement

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Officers of the Federal Security Service have detained a 52-year-old resident of the Zaporozhye Region on suspicion of high treason for transferring data to the Ukrainian side about the deployment locations and movement of the Russian Armed Forces

Russia’s Belogor heavy-duty robot deployed for mine clearing in Donbass

The robotic system detonates up to 90% of the mines, depending on their depth

Kiev regime keeps getting rid of witnesses of Bucha staging — Russian Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova called all the stories about the alleged killings of civilians in Bucha by the Russian military in April 2022 "nonsense"

Fire at warehouse in Leningrad Region, 62 drones: aftermath of Ukrainian attack on Russia

TASS has compiled the main information about the consequences

Russian diplomat unleashes criticism of 'judicial wrangling' on ICJ

Western countries have been interfering in judicial procedures on a large scale, Maria Zakharova maintained

Czech Foreign Ministry calls in Russian envoy over alleged threats to two firms — agency

Comments to the list by Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev also raised concern, according to the Czech media

Israel, Lebanon agree to cease fire — Trump

The ceasefire will enter into force at 9 p.m. GMT

EU countries risk war with Russia by housing sites producing UAVs for Ukraine — envoy

According to Dmitry Polyansky, Europe has shifted to a strategy of establishing ‘Ukrainian’ companies that manufacture drones and their components in EU member states in order to prevent its Ukrainian partners from losing, or at least from losing quickly

Arrest lifted: Deyna tanker leaves French territorial waters

There are no Russian citizens among the Deyna tanker's crew

Oil revenues in April, May to differ from Q1 figures — Russian finance minister

Anton Siluanov noted that extra oil and gas revenues will make it possible to compensate the shortfall in the industry income suffered in the first quarter

Standard demining methods in Donbass are obsolete — Emercom-Demining CEO

The humanitarian demining team’s field engineers use the comprehensive approach, Bogdan Pilipchuk said

IDF to remain in its positions in Lebanon after ceasefire takes effect — Netanyahu

The Israeli PM announced that, at the request of US President Donald Trump, the ceasefire "would begin at midnight"

EC sees 'no evidence' of strikes against Russia from EU airspace — spokeswoman

EC Spokeswoman Anitta Hipper stated that Sergey Shoigu’s remarks amounted to "misinformation" aimed at creating conditions for escalation and regional instability

UN secretary-general welcomes Israeli-Lebanese ceasefire, calls for compliance

The official commended the role of the United States in facilitating the ceasefire

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In its statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said that European countries are increasing the production of drones "amid rising losses and worsening manpower shortages in the Ukrainian armed forces"

Kiev ban on all Russian, cyberattack allegations: Foreign Ministry’s statements

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Moldova declares Russian command in Transnistria persona non grata

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Iran welcomes ceasefire in Lebanon — ministry spokesman

Esmail Baghaei thanked Pakistan for help in reaching the deal

Medvedev says UAV manufacturers in Europe may be targeted now

The Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council wished his European partners "sweet dreams"

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Dmitry Peskov said he has nothing to add to the statement about Europe increasing the production of drones to send to Ukraine for attacks on Russia

Germany becomes main sponsor of Ukrainian militarization — Russian MFA

Maria Zakharova emphasized that Germany is Vladimir Zelensky’s main partner in sending Ukrainians to their deaths

No legal basis for imposing fees in Strait of Hormuz — head of UN maritime agency

According to Arsenio Dominguez, the world "only pays attention to maritime transport when it is affected, and this causes economic damage to people"

Spain purchased record large gas volume from Russia — newspaper

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US’ violation of obligations prevents establishment of peace — Iranian parliament speaker

Bagher Ghalibaf expressed gratitude to Pakistan for the support and mediation efforts to resolve the conflict

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Alexey Pushkov said this aggressive stance is justified in a cynically superficial manner

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Mohsen Rezaei said there are currently reasons to maintain the ceasefire and hold talks simultaneously

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Keir Starmer says it is important to support mine clearance operations in the area to ensure "a return to global stability and security"

UK’s move to send record drones to Kiev may prolong sufferings in Ukraine — Russian envoy

Andrey Kelin added that Britain had been reluctant to discuss broader European security issues

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Maria Zakharova noted that "Russia respects the results of the will of the Hungarian people, as well as any other people who act independently on the basis of their own laws"

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US president assumes that Iranian conflict may not be settled

Donald Trump separately said oil prices stood at $89 or $90, while previously forecasts were $250-$300 per barrel

Moscow International Film Festival opens at Rossiya theater

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Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s Belgorod Region leave 1 killed, 11 others injured — governor

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US aggression against Iran continues series of 'unipolar wars' — senior legislator

Alexey Pushkov said that Iran did not pose any threat to the West

Russia expects a victory of common sense in London — ambassador

Andrey Kelin lamented that London does not want to engage in a dialogue at all

Iran does not accept temporary ceasefires with US — deputy foreign minister

Saeed Khatibzadeh added that ongoing contacts through intermediaries "are being implemented precisely for this purpose"

Top brass discloses addresses of firms in Europe producing UAVs for strikes on Russia

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Russian troops align front ahead of Ozernoye offensive in DPR — expert

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EU cannot weaken Russia and has nothing to offer for peace — Slovak Prime Minister

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Australia puts off hearing of espionage case against Russian-born couple to May — mission

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Press review: Israel-Lebanon ceasefire may fail and US reinstates oil sanctions on Russia

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, April 17th

Washington pressuring Europe to join conflict with Iran — newspaper

El Mundo reported that significant tension surrounds the US-Israeli military operation in the Islamic Republic

Number of drones downed near St. Petersburg reaches 12

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Press review: Pakistan advances US-Iran ceasefire as Russia joins Hormuz talks

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Number of people wishing to join Bundeswehr spikes by 20% compared to 2025

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IDF strikes rocket launchers in Lebanon that were used to attack Israel

The army press service also said that search and rescue forces were operating at sites in northern Israel where strikes had been reported

US gained nothing from war with Iran, suffered huge losses — Chinese economist

He Weiwen noted that Washington had failed to achieve its goal of changing the government in Tehran

Process equipment on fire in Tuapse port after drone attack

The crisis response center reported that forces engaged in firefighting comprise 157 people and 49 vehicles

One civilian wounded in Kiev’s shelling of DPR in past day

Eight shelling attacks by Ukrainian armed groups were registered

Europe’s role in Ukraine conflict, Iran's enriched uranium — Kremlin briefing

Dmitry Peskov said the direct involvement of European countries in the conflict in Ukraine is growing, and all the details were mentioned in a statement by the Russian Defense Ministry

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The flights are from Chelyabinsk, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Ufa, Barnaul, Urgench, and Yekaterinburg

Russia’s Battlegroup North destroys three Ukrainian mortars, EW station over past 24 hours

"Combined arms units of Battlegroup North, including unmanned system crews, eliminated up to 145 servicemen, 12 motor vehicles, an Anklav electronic warfare station, three mortars, three ATVs, and a buggy of the Ukrainian armed forces in one day," Vasily Mezhevykh said

Diplomatic forum in Antalya to bring together delegates from 150 countries

The Russian delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

Iran-US ceasefire agreements must be fully respected — Russian MFA

Maria Zakharova empasized that Lebanon was also part of the deal