Iran rejects ‘unfounded’ US, UK claims of arms supply to Yemen
Iran’s permanent ambassador to the UN has dismissed “unfounded” accusations by the United States and Britain about sending arms to Yemen, saying such claims are meant to justify the pair’s bombing campaign against the Arab country.
In a letter sent to the president of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on Monday, Amir Saeid Iravani rejected the anti-Iran allegations made by the US and UK envoys at a UNSC briefing on Yemen last week.
The British and American diplomats “have once again abused the Security Council platform to level unfounded allegations against the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding the situation in the Red Sea and Yemen,” he said.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran categorically rejects these baseless allegations, considering them as a pretext utilized by the United States and the United Kingdom to advance their short-sighted political agenda as well as to justify and validate their ongoing unlawful actions and military aggression against Yemen.”
During the UNSC meeting, the US and UK representatives accused the Islamic Republic of arming Yemen. The French delegate also made similar claims.
Iravani dismissed France’s “unjustified and unsubstantiated” allegations against Iran, urging Paris to “act more responsibly and refrain from labeling political accusations against other sovereign nations without substantiation.”
Also in his letter, the Iranian envoy denounced the US-led strikes on Yemen that came in response to the country’s pro-Palestine naval operations.
“Once again, Iran unequivocally condemns the ongoing military aggression and unlawful use of force against Yemen by the so-called US-led coalition, which flagrantly violates Yemen’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, international law, the UN Charter, and relevant Security Council resolutions, posing a serious threat to regional peace and stability,” Iravani said.
He also noted that Iran is not engaged in any activity that contravenes UN resolutions on the Yemen arms embargo.
“Iran consistently advocates for the peaceful resolution of the Yemen crisis through diplomatic channels and underscores its dedication to maritime security and freedom of navigation,” he added.
In solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza who are subjected to a US-backed Israeli genocide, Yemeni forces have targeted ships going to and from ports in the occupied territories, or whose owners are linked to Israel, in the southern Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Gulf of Aden, and even in the Arabian Sea.
In response to the pro-Palestine operations, the US and its allies have bombed Yemen in violation of the country’s sovereignty and international law.
The illegal attacks prompted Yemen to declare American and British vessels as legitimate targets for its armed forces.
