President Putin offered guarded remarks earlier this week on US actions toward Iran, likening potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its global energy impacts to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic while noting the conflict's unpredictable path. Dmitry Medvedev, former president and current Deputy Chairman of the Security Council, was more direct, stating that American boots on the ground in Iran "threatens roughly the same consequences as what happened in Vietnam," citing a decade-long conflict from which Washington could not find a dignified exit. He described a potential ground operation as having "fatal consequences" for the broader region. The comments come as thousands of US Marines and Airborne troops move toward the Middle East. The White House and Pentagon have rejected comparisons to past prolonged wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed the Vietnam theme, referencing historical US military briefings known as the 'Five O’Clock Follies' as a parallel to current statements. Perspectives differ sharply: Russian officials highlight risks of escalation and insurgency, US leaders insist the operation is not a quagmire, and Iranian voices point to perceived detachment from reality. Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/after-putins-guarded-iran-war-comments-medvedev-enters-chat