The United States has accused Iran of providing military support to Yemen’s Houthi movement and “violating UN Security Council resolutions,” warning that Tehran’s actions are “threatening regional stability and maritime security” in the Gulf and Red Sea.
Speaking at an emergency UN Security Council session, US Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Tammy Bruce said this Council has called into an emergency session to discuss the Iranian regime’s efforts to threaten its neighbors in the Gulf and undermine efforts toward peace in the region.
On July 3, an Iranian flight from Tehran arrived in Sanaa in the Houthi-controlled territory. The purpose of this flight was to ferry IRGC personnel, including drone and missile experts, in support of Houthi terrorism—under the guise of transporting Houthi officials to the funeral of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
A week later, Yemen’s internationally recognised government said Iran had submitted a request to operate another Mahan Air flight from Tehran to Sanaa to return the Houthi delegation. The request was rejected, with the government instead proposing that the passengers return on an aircraft chartered by Yemenia Airways.
“Yemen affirmed that Iran’s operation of direct flights to Sana’a Airport, which is under the control of terrorist militias, cannot be regarded as a humanitarian measure, but rather constitutes a gross violation of its sovereignty and a challenge to Security Council resolutions and the sanctions regime imposed on the terrorist militias,” Yeman government said in a statement.
Some Houthi leaders rejected that proposal and insisted on continuing Mahan Air flights to Sanaa, arguing that such flights represented their right to operate the airport and establish direct international links.
The dispute expanded, becoming part of a wider struggle over control of Sanaa airport and Yemeni airspace outside government institutions. The issue highlighted the broader contest over sovereignty and whether Houthi authority over a key international entry point would gain de facto recognition.
Bruce said the flight represented a significant escalation in Iranian support for the Houthis and compared it with previous Mahan Air flights to Sanaa in 2015 that were halted amid international pressure.
“We have not seen Iran attempt such outwardly brazen support for the Houthis since the 2015 aborted Mahan Air flights to Sanaa. In fact, Houthi leaders publicly celebrated the recent flight as a successful evasion of international efforts to isolate the terrorist group,” she said.
“These actions constitute a violation of Security Council Resolution 2216. Resolution 2216 prohibits the supply, sale, or transfer of arms and related material, technical assistance, training, or other support to the Houthis related to military activities or the use of arms and related materiel, including drones and missiles,” she added.
“This kind of support enables the Houthis to terrorize the Yemeni people and threaten freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and surrounding waterways,” Bruce told the council.
She accused Iran of violating UN Security Council Resolution 2216, which prohibits the transfer of arms, military assistance, training, and related support to the Houthis.
The US envoy said the Houthis had developed increasingly advanced military capabilities over nearly a decade, including repeated cross-border drone and missile attacks, which Washington said indicated continued external assistance in violation of the arms embargo.
Bruce also accused Tehran of ignoring Yemen’s sovereignty after a second Iranian flight entered Yemen despite objections from the internationally recognised Yemeni government.
She further alleged that Iran had violated Security Council Resolution 2817 by continuing attacks against neighbouring countries and commercial shipping.
According to Bruce, Iran recently launched drones and missiles at three civilian commercial vessels travelling through Omani territorial waters, causing potential risks to crew members and maritime traffic. She said one Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker was left burning after an attack.
She also claimed that an Iranian strike on a container ship heading to the United Arab Emirates left an Indian national missing.
Beyond maritime incidents, Bruce said Iran had launched drones and missiles against Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE over the past week. She cited Qatar’s Interior Ministry as reporting injuries, including to a child, from debris following interception operations during Iranian attacks.
The US diplomat said the attacks undermined diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran, including a May memorandum of understanding under which the United States agreed to suspend military action while Iran committed to refrain from threats and the use of force.
“The United States will not unilaterally implement the MOU while Iran continues to threaten safe passage protected by the MOU,” Bruce said.
She warned that Washington would respond militarily if Iran targeted commercial shipping, saying US operations were conducted in self-defence and in defence of partners in the region.
Bruce reaffirmed US support for Gulf allies and Yemen’s internationally recognised government, saying “The United States stands with our partners in the Gulf, and we stand with the Republic of Yemen government against the Iranian-supported Houthi terrorist threat.”
“We remain committed to working with Council members to use all available tools, including sanctions, to support a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Yemen, and to safeguard international peace and security,” she said.
She urged the Council to communicate to Iran, “unequivocally,” that these unambiguous actions are contrary to international law and are “unacceptable.”
The Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran is based on a straightforward understanding. That is, the United States will suspend military action and that Iran will refrain from threats and the use of force.
In the few weeks since the MOU’s signing, Iran has repeatedly defied this understanding.
The United States will not unilaterally implement the MOU while Iran continues to threaten safe passage protected by the MOU.
Simply put, if Iran shoots at ships, we will immediately respond with force, the statement said.
U.S. military operations are a response to these threats—in self-defense and defense of others.
Furthermore, as Secretary Rubio stressed during his trip to the region last month, the United States will continue to stand with our partners in the region. Make no mistake, this is not a talking point. It is a commitment that we will back—and are backing—with action.
