Houthis’ foreign minister declared that the group will not scale back its activities due to U.S. pressure or Iranian appeals

Yemen’s Houthi movement will not reduce their operations against Israeli shipping in the Red Sea, despite U.S. military pressure or requests from allies like Iran, according to the group’s foreign minister.

Jamal Amer made these remarks to Reuters late Monday following a series of U.S. strikes in regions of Yemen under Houthi control. The Houthis had announced last week their intention to resume attacks on Red Sea shipping as a means of supporting Palestinians in Gaza.

Two high-ranking Iranian officials informed Reuters that Iran had communicated a verbal message to the Houthi representative in Tehran on Friday, urging a de-escalation of tensions. Additionally, Iran’s foreign minister requested Oman, which has acted as a mediator with the Houthis, to relay a similar message during his visit to Muscat on Sunday. Both officials chose to remain anonymous.

Iran has not publicly commented on its recent communications with the Houthis regarding their renewed military actions, asserting that the group makes its own decisions. U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Monday that he would hold Iran accountable for any attacks executed by the Houthis.

“There will be no discussions about reducing operations until the aid blockade in Gaza is lifted. Iran does not dictate our decisions; it sometimes mediates but cannot control our actions,” Amer stated, marking his first comments on the matter to an international news outlet.

Speaking from Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, which has been targeted by U.S. strikes, he mentioned that he had not received any information regarding a message from Iran to the Houthi envoy in Tehran. While he acknowledged that other nations had suggested a reduction in hostilities, he emphasized, “Yemen is currently at war with the U.S., and we have the right to defend ourselves by any means necessary, so an escalation is probable.”

IRANIAN CONCERNS

Since the outbreak of the Gaza war in 2023, Iran’s network of proxies and allies throughout the Middle East has faced significant challenges, leading to heightened fears of deeper involvement in conflict with the United States. For the first time last year, Iran and Israel engaged in direct military exchanges as tensions escalated in Gaza.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who withdrew from the 2015 agreement that limited Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief, has intensified a “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran since his return to office in January.

“The U.S. is threatening Iran and conducting strikes in Yemen. All scenarios are now on the table. We will respond in kind. If they attack us from the USS Harry S. Truman, we will retaliate against Truman,” stated the Houthi foreign minister.

While Iran supports the Houthis, the Yemeni group asserts its alignment with Tehran and the broader ‘Axis of Resistance’ without being mere puppets. Experts on Yemen, where the Houthis have expanded their influence during years of civil conflict, suggest that the group is primarily driven by domestic issues and its support base. On March 12, the Houthis announced a resumption of attacks on Israeli vessels navigating through the Red Sea, citing Israel’s failure to meet their deadline for lifting the aid blockade on Gaza.

Israel’s blockade, which restricts food and medical supplies, commenced on March 2 amid escalating tensions over a ceasefire agreement in Gaza. In response, Israel conducted significant airstrikes on Gaza late into Tuesday.

STRIKES CONTINUE

Since November 2023, the Houthis have executed over 100 attacks aimed at shipping, claiming these actions were in solidarity with the Palestinians amid Israel’s conflict with Hamas, another ally of Iran in the region. They halted their operations when a ceasefire in Gaza was established in January.

The Houthi foreign minister stated that their focus was solely on Israeli vessels, asserting that the U.S. had intensified the situation, thus justifying the Houthis’ right to self-defense.

On Saturday, the U.S. initiated a series of strikes that targeted the capital and extended into Houthi-controlled regions of Yemen, resulting in numerous casualties.

Amer noted that some European Union nations had advised the Houthis against further escalation, and the group had attempted to reassure them that their focus remained on Israeli shipping. He also mentioned that Saudi Arabia, which supports Yemen’s internationally recognized government against the Houthis in the civil conflict, had not yet taken military action, nor had other Gulf states. He emphasized that the Houthis appreciated this stance but cautioned that Gulf nations could find themselves in danger if they chose to intervene militarily.

“If any aircraft or base is used against us, we will escalate and defend ourselves. However, if they (Gulf states) maintain their neutrality, we will refrain from aggression,” he stated. The Saudi government communications office did not provide an immediate response to a request for comment.