TEHRAN — Iran's Foreign Ministry rejected claims by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Houthi rebels are "agents and proxies of the Iranians," asserting instead that the Houthis are an independent Yemeni actor.
Esmail Baqaei, spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, said that "Marco Rubio's lies cannot replace facts." He emphasized that Ansarallah, the official name for the Houthi movement, acts independently and does not take orders from any external entity.
Baqaei contended that "the roots of instability in the region lie in the military interventions and hegemonic policies of the United States." He called for Washington to end its "pernicious and destabilizing interventions" to achieve peace.
"Peace in Yemen cannot be imposed through bombs and external pressure," Baqaei said. It must begin instead with "genuine negotiations based on the roadmap agreed by the parties."
Rubio declared on Tuesday that "the Houthis are in many ways agents and representatives of the Iranians" and that "clearly, behind some of this is the hand of Iran." He linked Tehran to Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and Yemen's internationally recognized government. Rubio also highlighted the "very strong defensive military relationship" the United States maintains with Saudi Arabia and said Washington is closely monitoring developments.
U.S. officials have increasingly emphasized alleged ties between the Houthis and Iran in recent days. The U.S. Embassy in Yemen said on Wednesday that "Houthi actions triggered the current escalation with the widely documented support of Iran." The embassy claimed the UN Security Council recognized this assertion in its Aug. 7 statement, though the text released by the council on that date does not explicitly mention Iran.
UN Security Council Resolution 2216 from 2015 prohibits the "supply, sale or transfer of arms and related material, as well as technical assistance, training and aid" to several groups, including the Houthis.
