Putin Defends Iran at Valdai: Praises Its Resilience and Calls for Sanctions Relief

Vladimir Putin spoke at the Valdai forum to defend Iran, praising its resilience and heroism, and called for the lifting of international sanctions. He expressed hope that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen and that passage restrictions would be lifted, supporting that such measures would no longer be justified. Putin also condemned Western aggression, including the war in Ukraine, and highlighted ongoing tensions in the Gulf with the US maintaining a blockade against Iran. US figures like Marco Rubio and Donald Trump made statements about the situation, with Trump mentioning possible new bombings after the November midterm elections. Iran's ambassador in Moscow thanked Russia for its support at the UN.