Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has stated that the United States has long attempted to gain control over the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline located in the Baltic Sea. The pipeline was damaged in September 2022 by a mysterious explosion.

The explosions three years ago, which damaged the pipelines, largely severed Russia's natural gas supplies to Europe. Although Russia had already widely halted gas deliveries prior to the incident, this event further tightened energy supplies on the European continent.

Both Russia and Western countries have stated that the incident was an act of deliberate sabotage. Investigators spent years trying to piece together the mystery of the perpetrators behind the attack. Last year, a Ukrainian man was arrested in Italy on suspicion of coordinating activities related to the attack.

Lavrov said on Thursday that the United States has been working to dominate the global energy market, citing Venezuela as an example—where Washington effectively controls the world's largest oil reserves—and also naming Iran.

According to a transcript of the interview released by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov stated, "The United States now also claims it wants to take over the Nord Stream pipeline."

He did not provide further details on the matter.