US: Iran continues supplying weapons and drugs that fuel Yemen's war
Iran has continued supplying weapons and drugs that fuel the Yemen war despite its agreement to restore diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia، U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking said on Thursday according to Reuters
Prospects for a peaceful resolution have improved as a result of the March agreement mediated by China، discussions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis، and a truce that has largely lasted despite expiring in October.
However، Iran is still providing drugs and ammunition that help fuel the war that started in 2014 and has led to one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in the history of the globe، Lenderking told reporters in an online briefing on his most recent visit to the region.
"The Iranians have continued to smuggle weapons and narcotics toward this conflict and we are very concerned that this would continue despite the benefits that would come from a Saudi-Iran deal. So I think that is a space we have to watch،" Lenderking said.
"Despite the fact that we welcomed an agreement between the Saudis and the Iranians، I remain concerned about Iran's role،" he said، contending that Tehran has trained Houthi fighters and equipped them "to fight and attack Saudi Arabia."
Iran denies arming the Houthis، who seized Yemen's capital Sanaa after ousting the government and control large swaths of the country.
U.S. officials have accused Iran of violating U.N. resolutions by supplying the Houthis with drones and missiles for cross-border attacks on Saudi Arabia، although there have been no such strikes in more than a year.
The war has killed tens of thousands of people and left millions dependent on international aid.
The Saudi-Iran deal alone will not end the conflict، which only can be settled through negotiations between the Yemeni sides، Lenderking said.
The United States will not reopen its embassy in Sanaa until it is confident the war is over and a "very firm and irreversible" peace process is underway، he said.