On April 2, 2026, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said Kyiv was ready to join international efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He argued that Iran’s behavior in this critical maritime corridor increasingly resembles the tactics Russia previously used in the Black Sea.

The statement came during an international meeting chaired by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. Sybiha drew a direct link between the crisis in the Gulf and Russia’s war against Ukraine, warning that authoritarian and terrorist regimes do not operate in isolation but learn from one another’s methods.

For Israeli readers, the significance is immediate and obvious. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most vital energy chokepoints, and any attempt to disrupt freedom of navigation there reverberates far beyond the Gulf, affecting prices, supply security, and the broader strategic balance across the Middle East.

A Familiar Black Sea Playbook

Sybiha’s Comparison: Iran Following Russia’s Model

According to Sybiha, Iran’s tactics in the Strait of Hormuz closely mirror the model Moscow employed in the Black Sea. In both cases, the objective is the same: to destabilize global markets and turn essential maritime routes into instruments of political pressure.

He stressed that Tehran appears to have studied Russia’s experience, absorbed the lessons........

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