Rashad Al-Alimi, Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, has warned that Iran’s strategic ambitions in the Red Sea pose a direct threat to global maritime security. In an interview with Der Spiegel on Sunday, he accused Tehran of collaborating with both Al-Qaeda and its proxy, the Iran-backed Houthis, to destabilize the region and extort the international community.

Al-Alimi criticized the Houthis for exploiting key waterways to advance Iran’s regional agenda, calling for their designation as a terrorist organization and urging economic measures to isolate the group. He emphasized that advanced weapons used by the Houthis—including drones and missiles—originate from Iran, as confirmed by UN reports.

The PLC chairman also pointed to evidence of Houthi collaboration with Al-Qaeda, alleging that the group has armed and funded operatives to carry out attacks in government-controlled areas.

Commending the Saudi-led coalition for liberating 70% of Yemen’s territory, Al-Alimi underscored Saudi Arabia’s crucial role in supporting Yemen’s stability and economy.