Russia’s Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev has said the Bab al-Mandeb Strait could serve as a strategic alternative to the Strait of Hormuz for Iran, warning that any wider regional conflict could disrupt shipping through another of the world’s most important maritime routes.
According to Al Jazeera, Medvedev made the remarks while in Tehran, where he was attending ceremonies marking the final farewell to Iran’s Supreme Leader.
He described the Strait of Hormuz as one of Iran’s most significant strategic assets, saying its geopolitical importance gives Tehran considerable leverage during periods of regional tension.
Medvedev also pointed to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, located between Yemen, Djibouti and Eritrea, as another strategically important waterway. The passage connects the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, making it a vital route for global trade and energy shipments.
He warned that if tensions in the Middle East were to escalate into a broader regional conflict, maritime traffic through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait could also be affected. However, he said he hoped the situation would not deteriorate to that point, while urging countries seeking further escalation to consider the potential consequences.
The comments come amid continued concerns over security in key international shipping lanes. Earlier, Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement threatened to disrupt navigation through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait and, on June 8, announced restrictions targeting Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea.
