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Key facts
- Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated the Yemen conflict and Bab al-Mandeb strait tensions are not attributable to Iran.
- Araghchi attributed the escalating tensions to 'old disputes' between Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
- He emphasized that a military solution is not viable for Yemen and other regional issues.
- The Houthis have threatened to block the Bab al-Mandeb strait amid increased hostilities with Saudi Arabia.
- The US and Israel have conducted over 15,000 strikes since the start of the war with Iran.
- Iran's diplomatic mission stated its military actions are defensive and aligned with international law.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that the conflict in Yemen and the escalating tensions in the Bab al-Mandeb strait cannot be attributed to Iran, instead attributing them to 'old disputes' between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. In an interview with Iran Daily, Araghchi emphasized that there is no military solution to the issues in Yemen, the Bab al-Mandeb strait, or other regional matters.
These comments come as Houthi rebels have threatened to block the strait amidst heightened hostilities with Saudi Arabia. The broader conflict, described as a US-Israel-Iran war, has seen extensive military operations, with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reporting over 15,000 targets struck by the US and Israel. Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon have resulted in casualties.
While Iran's allies in Lebanon and Iraq have opened new fronts, the Houthi rebels in Yemen have not formally joined the conflict. The Houthis, who have a history of conflict with the Yemeni army and closer ties with Iran since the Arab Spring, seized Sanaa in 2014, leading to a Saudi-led coalition intervention. They have demonstrated missile and drone capabilities, attacking targets in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. A UN-brokered truce in Yemen has largely held since 2022.
Following the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, the Houthis began targeting international shipping in the Red Sea in support of Palestinians, also firing drones and missiles at Israel. These attacks ceased after a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in October 2025. Despite Houthi leader Abdul Malik Al-Houthi stating his group is ready to act, they have not made a formal announcement of joining the war, unlike Hezbollah and Iraqi armed groups. Experts suggest the Houthis are primarily motivated by a domestic agenda, though they share a political affinity with Iran and Hezbollah. The US has accused Iran of supporting the Houthis, which the Houthis deny.
Separately, Iran's diplomatic mission to the UN Security Council reaffirmed that its military actions are defensive and lawful responses to continuous American aggression. Iran has also urged regional Arab states to publicly reject claims of aiding military operations against the Islamic Republic.