Dubai: Yemen’s Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Muammar al-Ariyani said Iran has increased its arms smuggling operation to Houthi militias since a UN-backed ceasefire expired last October.
The minister pointed to a recent joint operation by US and French forces that intercepted an Iranian shipment of weapons headed for Yemen via the Gulf of Oman.
Earlier reports said the ship carried 3,000 assault rifles, 20 anti-tank missiles and about 500,000 rounds of ammunition on its way to Houthi militias.
In a statement, the US said the operation was one of four major sanctions over the past two months that blocked more than 5,000 weapons and 1.6 million rounds of ammunition from reaching Yemen.
Al-Ariyani said the seizure of 100 drone engines by Yemeni security forces, heading to the Houthis through the Shahan land port in the 5th such violation in two months, has prompted the international community to end the war and bring peace. Iran’s role in undermining U.S. efforts has been demonstrated. Yemen.
He added that this confirms the full empowerment of Iran’s militia, which “does not have the power to decide on war and peace.”
Al-Ariyani accused Iran’s regime of committing such violations to “export its internal crises” and to “cover up atrocities against the Iranian people”.
The regime, he said, seeks to “mobilize its sectarian militias to foment anarchy, terrorism, destabilize security and stability, and threaten energy security and international shipping lanes.”
The minister called on the international community and members of the United Nations to confront Iran’s illegal practices that undermine regional and international stability.