Barran Press
On September 8, 2024, Yemen's Minister of Information, "Moammar Al-Eryani," stated that remarks made by Iranian Revolutionary Guard Commander Major General Hossein Salami have revealed the true motives behind Houthi attacks on maritime trade routes.
In a press statement released by the official Saba News Agency, Al-Eryani emphasized that Salami's comments confirm that Houthi assaults in the Red Sea are orchestrated by Iran as part of a broader strategy to serve its economic interests, dismissing claims of solidarity with Gaza.
He noted, “The Houthi attacks and acts of piracy against commercial ships and oil tankers in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab, and the Gulf of Aden clearly indicate Iran’s involvement in planning, equipping, and executing these operations.”
Al-Eryani suggested that events in the occupied Palestinian territories since October 7 were merely a pretext for Iran to test the capabilities of the weapons and expertise it has supplied to the Houthis, including joint operations rooms and command centers.
The Yemeni minister highlighted that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard has established a continuous supply chain to the Houthi militia, providing advanced military systems and precision weapons through specialized smuggling networks, with preparations for these operations starting years before the recent conflict in Gaza.
He reiterated the dangers posed by the Houthi militia, which he described as an Iranian tool, maintaining control over state institutions and the capital, Sana'a. Al-Eryani warned of the implications of Iran’s actions on efforts to end the war and achieve peace in Yemen, as well as the catastrophic repercussions of maritime piracy on the national economy.
“The international community has consistently ignored the government’s warnings about Iranian interventions that threaten Yemen’s security and stability, as well as regional and global peace, while Iran continues to smuggle weapons and experts to the Houthi militia,” he stated.
Al-Eryani called on the international community, the United Nations, and permanent members of the Security Council to fulfill their responsibilities in countering Iran’s policies, which he described as a blatant violation of the UN Charter. He urged immediate action to designate Iran as a "global terrorist organization," and to cut off its financial, political, and media resources while supporting the Yemeni government in restoring security and stability across the country.
On the same day, General Salami discussed details of the "war of ships" between Iran and Israel during former US President Donald Trump’s administration, as reported by the government-affiliated Mehr News Agency. He recounted the challenges faced by the RevolutionaGuard ry during that period, claiming that Israel had attacked Iranian vessels to disrupt oil exports.
Since October 2023, the Houthi group has intensified its missile and drone attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Gulf of Aden, leading to increased marine insurance costs and prompting many shipping companies to choose longer routes around the southern tip of Africa.
In response to the Houthi threat and to protect maritime navigation, the United States formed a multinational coalition in December 2023, with US forces conducting targeted strikes against Houthi military assets.