MOSCOW

Russia on Thursday expressed disappointment over a delay in release of two citizens who were detained as crew members of the Marinera oil tanker, which was seized by US armed forces in the North Atlantic’s international waters.

For Russia, this matter is both “important” and “urgent,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a press briefing in Moscow.

“We express our bewilderment and disappointment regarding the prolonged delay in resolving this important and urgent issue for us. We hope that this will happen in the very near future and our citizens will soon be able to return home,” she said.

According to Zakharova, “it is impossible to imagine” that any US authority directly subordinate to the head of state would deliberately fail for so long to carry out a presidential decision.

On Jan. 7, US forces announced the seizure of the Marinera in the North Atlantic Ocean for alleged violations of US sanctions.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the tanker was considered part of Venezuela’s "shadow fleet" and was transporting oil subject to US sanctions.

Turning to the situation in Iran, Zakharova welcomed the normalization of conditions there, saying efforts to maintain law and order had disrupted plans to destabilize the country.

“We are in constant close contact with our Iranian partners, who share with us their assessments of the developing situation,” she said.

Zakharova emphasized that Moscow consistently advocates for de-escalation around Iran and in the region as a whole.

“We persistently call on the parties involved to refrain from rash and reckless steps that would distance the prospect of reaching a sustainable settlement of the situation in the interests of international and regional peace and security,” she said.

She noted that Russian diplomatic missions in Iran are operating normally, although some consular functions are hampered by unstable internet connectivity.

Zakharova also advised Russian citizens in Iran to exercise caution, avoid photographing or filming, especially of military and government sites, and strictly comply with local law enforcement and security requirements.

"We also ask those Russians who have planned to travel to Iran for various purposes to postpone their trip until the security situation is fully normalized," she said.

Protests had erupted in Iran late December amid worsening economic conditions, particularly the sharp depreciation of the national currency and soaring inflation.

Authorities accused the US and Israel of supporting “rioters” and “terrorists” who allegedly attacked public and private property, including shops, banks and mosques.