G7 Accuses Iran of Arming Yemeni Fighters, Ignores Saudi-Led Blockade
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven nations issued a statement on Monday accusing Iran of supporting and arming Yemeni fighters. The statement notably failed to mention the Saudi-led attacks and blockade against Yemen, or alleged Israeli actions against Iran.
The foreign ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, continuing their adversarial stance, condemned the Ansarallah movement’s attacks against Saudi Arabia in their post-meeting declaration. The declaration, released following their meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, urged Yemeni combatants to immediately cease what they described as military actions, threats, and attacks against civilian vessels and to return to the political process in good faith.
The G7 foreign ministers further alleged that Iran’s continued support for Yemen has created a dangerous pattern of escalation that could impact the security of international shipping and trade. This assertion comes despite Saudi Arabia initiating military operations in Yemen in March 2015. Subsequent airstrikes and maritime, land, and air restrictions against Yemen have persisted, with the port of Hodeidah and the entry of fuel and goods into the country becoming a central point of contention and a significant humanitarian crisis.
In a reciprocal move, Yemeni fighters previously announced a blockade against Saudi vessels. However, despite advancing and gaining full control over the Bab al-Mandab Strait, they declared that shipping through this route and strait remains unobstructed and completely secure for other nations.
Iran has repeatedly denied accusations of sending weapons to the Ansarallah movement throughout the Yemen conflict, emphasizing that Tehran’s support for Yemen is political and humanitarian, and that the issue of Yemen is considered an internal matter.
