Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 3
By Fatih Karimov – Trend:
Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Bahram Ghasemi has rejected statements by a UK official about sending weapons to Yemeni Houthi rebels, IRNA news agency reported Aug. 3.
Earlier British government spokesman for the Middle East and North Africa Edwin Samuel told Saudi Arabian Okaz newspaper that Iran’s support for the Houthis is causing a lot of concern, including reports that Iran has been transporting arms to Yemen.
“This is contradictory to UN Security Council resolution 2216,” Samuel added.
Reacting to the British official claims, Ghasemi said that his statements are clear interference in the internal affairs of the regional countries and in line with the UK’s “divisive policies.”
The Iranian diplomat further referred to the UK official statements as “mere lie.”
Regional countries without intervention of trans-regional countries are able to overcome the crisis and insecurity with dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect, Ghasemi added.
Iran’s principal policy is based on establishing stability and security in the region, he said, adding foreign countries’ military presence in the region is a destabilizing factor.
He also accused the trans-regional powers of promoting extremism and terrorism.
Yemen has been in turmoil since September 2014, when the rebels overran the capital Sanaa, forcing President Abd-Rabbu Mansour to flee to Saudi Arabia. Since March 2015, a Saudi-led coalition, which includes Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, has been battling the rebels to restore Hadi to power.
Saudi Arabia accuses the Islamic Republic of providing military support to the Yemeni Shiite rebels, something that Tehran denies.