Vladimir Putin’s hardline ally Dmitry Medvedev has warned that the “biggest war” in the Middle East is to come, as Iran declares the Strait of Hormuz closed despite Donald Trump’s threats. The former Russian president claimed the US President had made a “gross” strategic error in taking on Iran.

Gulf states could respond to the crisis by seeking their own “nuclear shield”, dramatically increasing the risk of a wider conflict, he predicted. Medvedev warned: “The likelihood of a nuclear conflict there, unfortunately, has increased as a result of this unprovoked, extremely dangerous war that the United States has started.”

The now security official blamed the US for an “unprovoked, extremely dangerous war”, accusing Washington and Israel of behaving like a “bull in a china shop” and pushing the region towards catastrophe.

He said: “Probably the biggest war in the Middle East could still be ahead,” stated a man seen as uttering warnings on behalf of Putin. And then the Middle East will turn into a long-term… hotbed of instability, which could continue there for centuries.”

Those holding money or engaged in oil supply in the Middle East “need to think very hard about what to do next”, Medvedev added.

He went on: “The consequences will be fatal for all participants because getting involved in such a ground operation at a great distance from the very same United States of America, threatens with approximately the same consequences as what happened in Vietnam, when Washington got involved in a foreign country, located a thousand miles away, and for 10 years could not find a decent way out of this conflict.”

The US now faces “a very difficult situation here”, he said, “especially since Iran has repeatedly said that in this case, its hands will be untied”.

This comes as the Strait of Hormuz has been closed by Iran, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warning of “harsh measures” against anyone who tries to travel through it.

Shipping “to and from ports of allies and supporters of the Israeli-American enemies” is prohibited through any corridor or to any destination, they added.

Three container ships from different countries were subsequently forced to turn around after the warning.