Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev stated that Iran possesses a 'backup weapon' that could also be used in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. He described Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz as a tool as powerful as nuclear weapons. Medvedev warned that renewed large-scale conflict in the region could disrupt shipping through these vital maritime routes but expressed hope that the situation would not escalate that far.

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, located between Yemen, Djibouti, and Eritrea, connects the Arabian Sea to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, making it a key global trade route. Medvedev’s remarks come after Yemen’s Houthi rebels previously threatened to close the Bab al-Mandeb passage. He also sharply criticized recent U.S. attacks on Iran, calling them unprovoked and a violation of international law, noting that Iran posed no threat while negotiations were ongoing.

Medvedev urged all parties seeking to inflame conflict in the Middle East to consider the potential consequences of disrupting these strategic waterways.