The United States stressed its commitment to confronting Iranian threats in Yemen, describing its activity as malicious and accusing Tehran of prolonging the conflict in Yemen.
A State Department spokesman told Asharq Al-Awsat that US envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking, was working with United Nations envoy, Hans Grundberg, to secure a ceasefire in Yemen.
Resolving the conflict and providing relief to the Yemeni people are top priorities of the US foreign policy, he added.
Lenderking is focusing on three priorities in his mission: Tackling urgent humanitarian and economic issues, kicking off the political process and benefiting from the unprecedented international consensus on Yemen.
Meanwhile, State Department spokesman Ned Price said President Joe Biden's administration is committed to confronting the Iranian threat in Yemen.
Price issued a statement shortly after the US Navy seized upwards of 1,400 AK-47 assault rifles and 226,600 rounds of ammunition from a vessel originating from Iran and headed to Yemen.
"This ship was on a route historically used to illegally smuggle weapons to the Houthis in Yemen," said Price.
"The smuggling of arms from Iran to the Houthis represents a flagrant violation of the UN targeted arms embargo and is yet another example of how malign Iranian activity is prolonging the war in Yemen," he remarked.
"Iran’s support for armed groups throughout the region threatens international and regional security, our forces, our diplomatic personnel and citizens in the region, as well as our partners in the region and elsewhere," he added.
"This Administration is committed to countering this threat from Iran. The US seized dozens of anti-tank guided missiles, thousands of assault rifles, and hundreds of machine guns and rocket-propelled grenade launchers from similar vessels in both May and February of this year," he continued.
"The illegal flow of weapons to Yemen is enabling the brutal Houthi offensive against Marib, increasing the suffering of civilians. Further fighting – whether in Marib or elsewhere – will only bring more suffering. The Yemeni parties must reach a political settlement together to end the war," urged Price.
