Iran Denies Involvement in Houthi Control of Bab el-Mandeb, Calling Them 'Independent Actors'

Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly denied claims that Iran was involved in the pro-Iranian Houthi rebels' seizure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

During a press briefing on the 14th (local time), Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei addressed a question regarding whether Iran had any military involvement in the Houthis' control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, stating, "Iran does not interfere in Yemen's decisions, and Ansar Allah [the Houthi rebels] is an independent Yemeni entity that makes decisions based on its own interests."

While drawing a clear line by stating, "Iran does not engage in any interference in Yemeni affairs," he added, "However, as a nation that values regional stability, we are aware that certain forces are exploiting the current situation to fuel tensions and divisions among Islamic nations and to profit from the chaos."

Baghaei went on to re-emphasize, "It is a very clear fact that the people of Yemen make their own decisions. As an independent entity in Yemen, Ansar Allah makes decisions according to its own national interests and what it deems necessary."

Highlighting the historical context of the Yemen crisis, Baghaei said, "The current situation cannot be analyzed while excluding historical background. We are facing a nation that has been under attack and subjected to a brutal blockade over the past 10 to 12 years, making desperate efforts on multiple fronts to reclaim its legitimate rights."

He added, "Because these extremely legitimate demands were not met through conventional channels, they made the decisions they believed were appropriate to defend their own rights."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.