Yemen protested on Thursday against Iran’s ongoing flagrant meddling in its internal affairs, as well as its destabilization of its security and stability.
Yemeni Foreign Minister Shayea al-Zandani sent a letter to Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, current President of the United Nations Security Council and Pakistan’s permanent Ambassador to the organization, about Yemen’s recent seizure of an Iranian weapons shipment to the Houthi militants this month.
Zandani said the shipment was seized at sea and inspections by military experts found that the arms were made by Iran.
The incident was the latest in a series of seizures by Yemeni authorities, he added. It demonstrates the Iranian regime’s continued interference in Yemeni affairs and blatant violations of the UN Charter, international law and Security Council resolutions.
The shipment weighed around 750 tons and held weapons, ammunition and military gear, including Iranian-made Type 358 anti-aircraft missiles, drone components and warheads.
In his letter, Zandani said Iranian meddling has allowed the Houthi militias to continue their war against the Yemeni people and carry out attacks against cities and villages, claiming civilian lives.
The Houthis have carried out terrorist operations against civilian infrastructure and oil and energy facilities throughout the country, he added.
He also noted their attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.
The continued smuggling of Iranian weapons to the Houthis and Tehran’s offering of military, financial and technical support demonstrates the extent of the direct Iranian interference in Yemen, he remarked.
Iran’s backing of the Houthis is part of its expansionist and destabilizing agenda in the region, he warned.
Moreover, Zandani said the weapons shipment shows that Iran is keen on prolonging the conflict in Yemen, hampering efforts to reach a comprehensive political settlement and end the suffering of the people, and keeping Yemen as a platform to threaten international shipping.
