Medvedev says Strait of Hormuz gives Iran leverage comparable to ‘nuclear weapon’

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said Iran’s influence over the Strait of Hormuz gives it leverage comparable to a “nuclear weapon,” arguing that restricting passage through the waterway showed Tehran’s strategic reach, Anadolu reports. Speaking to journalists after a visit to Iran, Medvedev said Tehran could disrupt shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the event of a wider regional conflict, warning that such a move could halt oil and commercial transport. “I hope it does not come to that, but all countries seeking conflict in the region should remember this,” he said. Medvedev also criticized recent US strikes on Iran, calling them “completely unprovoked” and arguing that Tehran posed no threat to the US while negotiations between […]