The longtime leader of Russia’s Communist Party warned Wednesday that the United States may be planning to attack Russia following its war with Iran.
“We will be next. Look at Trump’s strategy. China is first, we are second, Iran is third,” Gennady Zyuganov said during a session of the lower-house State Duma.
“We’ll be torn apart worse than Yugoslavia, Iraq and Libya combined. Russia is the planet’s main storehouse, and that’s precisely why it is a prime target,” he said.
Zyuganov, who has led Russia’s Communist Party since its founding in 1993, said the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran laid bare what he described as the destructive imperial forces underpinning capitalism, and called on Russia to return to its Soviet legacy and pursue economic self-sufficiency.
“You can’t negotiate on the enemy’s terms. You can’t build an economy based on their blueprints. And you can’t trust their promises,” he said.
“The only response to rising challenges is to rely on our own strengths and achievements — a strong and self-sufficient economy, our successful Soviet experience and our Program of Victory,” Zyuganov added.
Russia, a close ally of Iran, has condemned the U.S.-Israeli attacks that began on Feb. 28 and which have so far left more than 1,300 civilians dead, according to Iranian authorities.
The Kremlin said last week that hostilities must stop immediately and that disputes surrounding Iran and the wider Middle East should be resolved through diplomatic means rather than military force.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
