Medvedev Comments on Iran Funeral, U.S. 250th

Dmitri Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, and former President of Russia, attended the funeral for Ayatollah Khamenei in Tehran, and he spoke with Russian journalists on the flight back to Moscow July 4. According to RT, Medvedev said that “there was no serious reason for the American attack [that killed Khamenei]… as) Iran posed no threat to the United States.” He added: “I think Iran surmounted this toughest of ordeals with dignity.”

RT elaborated that Medvedev told Russian reporters that “during the course of the conflict, the Islamic Republic realized that it possesses a deterrent on par with nuclear weapons—namely the Strait of Hormuz… In the event of renewed aggression, Iran could similarly block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Medvedev suggested. The vital chokepoint that connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden is another important waterway for Middle Eastern oil exports.”

Writing on his [Telegram channel, Medvedev also spoke up about the U.S.’s 250th anniversary. “The United States has turned 250 years old. Are they a role model or an ‘evil empire’? In my opinion, neither. But here’s what most countries on the planet agree on: America doesn’t have the right to make decisions for the others. Any state, both small and huge, will be able to deal with its problems on its own… The United States and the White House have no right to impose their will on others. Let them sort out the mess in their house first.”