Yemen Calls on Iran to Stop Arming Houthis and Withdraw Its Experts

The Yemeni government has called on the Iranian regime to stop arming the Houthi militia, withdraw its experts from Yemen, and cease interfering in the country's internal affairs, accusing Tehran of providing political cover for the militia and contributing to prolonging the war and deepening the humanitarian crisis.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates expressed its strong condemnation of the Iranian Foreign Ministry's remarks on Yemen, considering them to contain misleading claims and blatant interference in internal affairs, aimed at justifying the Houthis' actions and evading Tehran's responsibility for supporting them.

The ministry stated that Iranian interference has gone beyond funding, arming, and training to direct participation in planning and managing military operations, pointing to the Ministry of Interior's announcement about the presence of 21 foreign experts working with the Houthis, including 14 experts from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and 7 from Hezbollah.

It clarified that the tasks of these experts include managing operations, command and control, developing ballistic missiles and drones, electronic warfare, smuggling military components, as well as coordinating naval operations and identifying targeted commercial ships.

The Yemeni Foreign Ministry accused Tehran of exploiting the victims of the Al-Hadharah market crime in the Al-Wazi'iyah district of Taiz governorate to promote accusations that contradict what Yemeni authorities have announced, stressing its refusal to politicize the victims' blood.

It also warned against continued Iranian support for the Houthis, considering that it contributes to the ongoing violations against civilians, the targeting of cities and civilian facilities, and the threat to international navigation in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, as well as attacks on Saudi territory.

The ministry affirmed that the arms embargo imposed under Security Council resolutions 2216 and 2624 includes weapons, equipment, technical assistance, training, and funding related to the Houthis' military activities.

It stressed that respect for Yemen's sovereignty begins with stopping the arming of the militia, withdrawing Iranian experts, and ceasing interference in national decision-making, calling on Tehran to direct its resources towards improving the conditions of its own citizens instead of supporting armed groups and destabilizing the region.

The Foreign Ministry concluded its statement by emphasizing that Iran's concern for Yemeni lives, as it claims, requires stopping support for groups that prolong the war and exacerbate the suffering of the Yemeni people.