02:09Mandatory credit: US State Department
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller batted away a question on 'different standards' for US citizens killed by Hamas and Israel while describing ‘the deepening ties between Iran and Russia' as 'incredibly destabilizing', at a press briefing on Monday.
A reporter asked Miller why Secretary of State Anthony Blinken only mentioned US citizens killed by Hamas during his speech on the October 7 attacks but failed to mention those killed by Israeli actions, such as Tawfiq Ajaq and Aysenur Ezgi Eygi.
"Does that indicate a different standard for Americans based on who killed them?" the journalist asked.
"Absolutely not," Miller assured, adding that 'if you have seen our public statements, we have spoken out forcibly about American citizens who have been killed, who have been killed on both sides of this conflict'.
"The statement that the Secretary put out today, was about the anniversary of October 7th, and the people who died in the attacks of October 7th, and American citizens that were taken as hostages on October 7th."
Miller also commented on reports that well-known Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout is 'back in business' following his release by the US in a prisoner swap with Moscow.
"There are any number of actors that Russia has engaged over the years, not just Viktor Bout, but others to engage in destabilizing behaviour including making arms available, there's been no shortage of people both inside the government and outside the government of Russia willing to fulfil that role," he claimed.
A State Department spokesman explained that Washington continues to ‘monitor those very closely, take steps to counteract them and ultimately take actions to hold Russia accountable.’
On Sunday, it was reported that Russian citizen Viktor Bout, previously sentenced to 25 years in prison in the US, has returned to the international arms trade and is now trying to broker the sale of small arms to Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthi militants.
'Different standards for Americans based on who killed them?' - State Dept denial after Blinken's speech on October 7 'fails to mention Israel's victims'
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller batted away a question on 'different standards' for US citizens killed by Hamas and Israel while describing ‘the deepening ties between Iran and Russia' as 'incredibly destabilizing', at a press briefing on Monday.
A reporter asked Miller why Secretary of State Anthony Blinken only mentioned US citizens killed by Hamas during his speech on the October 7 attacks but failed to mention those killed by Israeli actions, such as Tawfiq Ajaq and Aysenur Ezgi Eygi.
"Does that indicate a different standard for Americans based on who killed them?" the journalist asked.
"Absolutely not," Miller assured, adding that 'if you have seen our public statements, we have spoken out forcibly about American citizens who have been killed, who have been killed on both sides of this conflict'.
"The statement that the Secretary put out today, was about the anniversary of October 7th, and the people who died in the attacks of October 7th, and American citizens that were taken as hostages on October 7th."
Miller also commented on reports that well-known Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout is 'back in business' following his release by the US in a prisoner swap with Moscow.
"There are any number of actors that Russia has engaged over the years, not just Viktor Bout, but others to engage in destabilizing behaviour including making arms available, there's been no shortage of people both inside the government and outside the government of Russia willing to fulfil that role," he claimed.
A State Department spokesman explained that Washington continues to ‘monitor those very closely, take steps to counteract them and ultimately take actions to hold Russia accountable.’
On Sunday, it was reported that Russian citizen Viktor Bout, previously sentenced to 25 years in prison in the US, has returned to the international arms trade and is now trying to broker the sale of small arms to Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthi militants.
Mandatory credit: US State Department
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller batted away a question on 'different standards' for US citizens killed by Hamas and Israel while describing ‘the deepening ties between Iran and Russia' as 'incredibly destabilizing', at a press briefing on Monday.
A reporter asked Miller why Secretary of State Anthony Blinken only mentioned US citizens killed by Hamas during his speech on the October 7 attacks but failed to mention those killed by Israeli actions, such as Tawfiq Ajaq and Aysenur Ezgi Eygi.
"Does that indicate a different standard for Americans based on who killed them?" the journalist asked.
"Absolutely not," Miller assured, adding that 'if you have seen our public statements, we have spoken out forcibly about American citizens who have been killed, who have been killed on both sides of this conflict'.
"The statement that the Secretary put out today, was about the anniversary of October 7th, and the people who died in the attacks of October 7th, and American citizens that were taken as hostages on October 7th."
Miller also commented on reports that well-known Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout is 'back in business' following his release by the US in a prisoner swap with Moscow.
"There are any number of actors that Russia has engaged over the years, not just Viktor Bout, but others to engage in destabilizing behaviour including making arms available, there's been no shortage of people both inside the government and outside the government of Russia willing to fulfil that role," he claimed.
A State Department spokesman explained that Washington continues to ‘monitor those very closely, take steps to counteract them and ultimately take actions to hold Russia accountable.’
On Sunday, it was reported that Russian citizen Viktor Bout, previously sentenced to 25 years in prison in the US, has returned to the international arms trade and is now trying to broker the sale of small arms to Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthi militants.