Washington Committed to Defending Saudi Arabia, Confronting Iranian Threat

US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iran and Iraq Jennifer Gavito, in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, confirmed that Washington is committed to reinforcing Saudi defenses.

Gavito admitted US concerns towards Iranian influence in Iraq undermining the stability and security of national institutions in the country.

She pointed out that US diplomacy seeks to dissuade Tehran from financing and arming groups outside the control of governments throughout the region. Gavito stressed that illegal flow of weapons from Iran to Yemen has led to an increase in the Houthis' brutal attacks and the suffering of civilians.

Here is the full text of the interview:

What worries the US administration the most about the development of events in Iraq, and what impact does this have on the security and stability of the country?

· ISIS remnants and armed groups operating outside of government control are the biggest obstacles to Iraq’s security and stability. Another area of concern is the economic challenges Iraq faces. We look forward to assisting Iraq diversify its economy and encourage foreign private sector investment in the country.

· Once government formation is complete, we look forward to working with a new government that reflects the will of Iraqi voters and that strives to improve services for all citizens and combat corruption in the interest of the Iraqi people.

· I believe that if we help Iraq strengthen its own sovereignty and institutions over time, improve the capabilities of Iraq’s security forces, and continue to encourage Iraq’s reintegration into the Arab neighborhood, then Iraq will be stable and prosperous. Moreover, it will be a stabilizing force for the entire region.

Some observers believe that the US presence in Iraq has not achieved what the people aspire to. What is your comment?

· We have been and will be a steady, reliable partner that supports Iraq’s sovereignty and security, anti-corruption and economic reform efforts, helps it improve regional relationships, provides humanitarian and demining assistance, supports respect for the human rights of all Iraqis, backs efforts to combat criminal activity and control unlawful armed groups, and advises and assists the Iraqi security forces.

· We are committed to these efforts because our aspiration is to see a stable, prosperous, democratic, and unified Iraq. I believe that the Iraqi people have the same hope and aspirations.

To what extent do the elements of corruption and sectarianism contribute to the complexity of the situation in Iraq?

· Corruption is a threat to all nations as it undermines the rule of law and tears at the fabric of trust and respect between people and their government.

· We share interests with our Iraqi partners in maintaining respect for freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly, enforcing the rule of law, respecting the rights of protesters, journalists, women, members of Iraq’s diverse ethnic and religious communities, and members of other marginalized groups, and pursuing judicial accountability for violent crimes committed against persons belonging to those groups.

To what extent does Iran have a role in the complexities of the political and security situation in Iraq?

· While we encourage Iraq to maintain friendly, productive relations with all its neighbors, we remain concerned about Iranian influence that undermines the stability and the integrity of Iraqi national institutions. Our diplomatic approach seeks to dissuade Iran from funding and arming groups outside the control of governments around the region, including Iraq.

How do you view the risks of Iranian activity on the security and stability of the region?

· The United States is concerned about Iranian influence that undermines the stability and the integrity of Iraq’s sovereignty and national institutions, and so are the Iraqi people.

· President Biden has made very clear that the United States wants to resolve our differences with Iran through diplomatic means.

· We firmly believe that a stable, sovereign, economically prosperous Iraq is key to broadening our mutually beneficial partnership with the Iraqi people and to bringing greater stability to the region.

· This Administration is committed to working toward regional de-escalation and wider economic and political integration in the region, including across historical lines of conflict.

· If regional actors and Iraq’s neighbors follow the same strategy with the same goal in mind, our chances of success will be far greater.

What is your assessment of the Iranian support for the Houthis in Yemen and its implications for the safety and security of the region?

· The United States has consistently seen evidence of the smuggling of arms from Iran to the Houthis. This represents a flagrant violation of the UN targeted arms embargo. It is yet another example of how malign Iranian activity is prolonging the war in Yemen.

· 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.

· The Biden 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 December, May, and February of last year.

· The illegal flow of weapons from Iran to Yemen is enabling the brutal Houthi offensives in Yemen, increasing the suffering of civilians. Further fighting - whether in Marib or elsewhere – is only bringing more suffering.

What is your assessment of the Saudi-US cooperation in the security and strategic fields? How important is this to international peace and security?

· Saudi Arabia faces significant threats to its territory; we are committed to working together to help the Saudis strengthen their defenses to defend its territory, its citizens, and the thousands of US citizens residing in Saudi Arabia.

· Cross-border attacks launched by the Houthis on the UAE, as well as Saudi Arabia, have killed civilians - including the January 17 attack on the Abu Dhabi airport that resulted in civilian casualties.

· There were more than 400 cross-border attacks last year launched by the Houthis with Iranian support, which affected Saudi infrastructure, schools, mosques, and workplaces, and endangered the civilian population, including 70,000 US citizens living in Saudi Arabia.

· With US support Saudi Arabia has been able to intercept 90 percent of the attacks, but we need to aim for 100 percent.

· The United States is committed to advancing Saudi defenses through security cooperation, arms transfers, and defense trade, exercises, training, and exchanges, alongside engagement on human rights and civilian harm mitigation. We have a number of tools available to assist Saudi Arabia to strengthen its air defense capabilities and will continue to discuss a range of security needs with our partners.

A Chinese diplomat announced that Beijing is working with the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, the five permanent UN Security Council members, and other key parties to push the Yemen peace plan forward.

The diplomat urged Yemeni factions to negotiate and quickly sign a peace agreement.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Shao Zheng, Chargé d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Yemen, said China is in contact with the Houthis and other Yemeni parties. He also called for an end to attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea.

The Chinese diplomat praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts for peace in Yemen, calling them “positive.” Zheng mentioned that he has met Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al-Jaber, many times, referring to him as “a dear friend.”

He disclosed that China is planning to work with regional countries to quickly achieve peace in the Red Sea region.

Zheng clarified that China’s military base in Djibouti is not currently involved in Red Sea operations.

He highlighted that the Chinese navy has protected 7,200 ships in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast over the past 15 years, with the involvement of 35,000 Chinese soldiers.

Addressing recent US sanctions on Chinese companies accused of supplying military materials to the Houthis, Zheng stated that Beijing opposes these sanctions.

He emphasized that China has strict controls on exporting military and civilian products, calling the sanctions “unilateral and without Security Council approval.”

Moreover, the ambassador expressed optimism about the future of Chinese-Yemeni relations, calling them “bright” and highlighting successful cooperation in various fields over the years.

“This year marks the 68th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Yemen. We’ve seen fruitful cooperation in political and economic areas. Both countries support each other regionally and internationally,” Zheng told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“We are confident in a bright future for our relations and can enhance cooperation through initiatives like the Belt and Road” Initiative, he affirmed.

During his recent visit to Yemen, his third in a year, Zheng visited Hadhramaut and Aden, where he attended the arrival of Chinese medical aid, including over 1,000 medical items and 10 ambulances.

“I saw significant local progress, like improved internet speeds, but Yemen still faces challenges such as electricity generation,” noted Zheng.

“In Aden, I met with the prime minister and other government officials for extensive discussions on bilateral relations and the situation in Yemen. We support the legitimate government and the Presidential Leadership Council,” he added.

The Chinese diplomat reaffirmed China’s opposition to military attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea.

“We must ensure the Red Sea’s security and make our position clear to the Houthis and other parties. The Red Sea crisis has lasted nearly six months, causing significant losses. We call for an end to these attacks,” said Zheng.

“China believes the Red Sea crisis is linked to the conflict in Gaza. We urge immediate peace in Gaza and humanitarian aid to prevent the crisis from spreading,” he added.

On a recent Houthi attack on a Chinese ship, Zheng said China is closely monitoring the Red Sea situation.

“The foreign shipping market is complex, and identifying a ship’s nationality can be difficult. We urge an end to attacks on commercial vessels to avoid disrupting global supply chains,” he said.

“The international community must ensure Red Sea peace according to international law. Civilians must not be targeted.”

“We must achieve peace in Gaza, respect the sovereignty of Red Sea countries like Yemen, and raise security awareness among commercial ships,” asserted Zheng.

Washington Committed to Defending Saudi Arabia, Confronting Iranian Threat