Iran’s foreign minister meets with Houthi leader as US, UK threaten airstrikes
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian met with Houthi leader Mohammed Abdulsalam in Tehran on Tuesday, as the United States and the United Kingdom threatened airstrikes against the Yemeni rebel group in response to its attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea.
The meeting comes as tensions are rising in the region, with the US and UK accusing Iran of providing support to the Houthis. The Houthis, in turn, have accused the US and UK of backing the Saudi-led coalition that is fighting against them in Yemen In a statement following the meeting, Amirabdollahian said that he had discussed the latest developments in Yemen with Abdulsalam. He also expressed Iran’s “support for the legitimate demands of the Yemeni people.”
Abdulsalam, for his part, thanked Iran for its “strong and decisive” support for the people of Gaza. He also said that the Houthis were committed to achieving a political solution to the Yemeni conflict.
The Houthis have been carrying out attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea for months. The attacks have raised concerns about a disruption to global shipping and a potential escalation of the conflict in Yemen.
The US and UK have said that they are prepared to take military action against the Houthis if they do not stop their attacks. The attacks have been condemned by the United Nations, which has called for an immediate end to the violence.