NEW YORK CITY: The US on Monday accused Iran of fueling maritime insecurity in the Red Sea by supplying weapons and other materials to the Houthis in Yemen, following the latest deadly attacks on commercial vessels last month.
Speaking during a UN Security Council debate on maritime security, Washington’s acting ambassador, Dorothy Shea, condemned the Houthis for the recent attacks that resulted in the sinking of two commercial ships, the deaths of crew members and the taking of hostages.
Iran “poses a threat to maritime security through its support for the Houthis and other terrorist groups and its seizure of vessels transiting international waters,” Shea told council members.
“Just last month, the Houthis attacked and sank two commercial vessels, resulting in loss of life, injury to sailors, and the capture of hostages.”
She reiterated the US demand that Tehran releases all detained vessels, including the MSC Aries, a container ship linked to an Israeli billionaire. It was seized by Iranian forces in April 2024 while transiting the Gulf of Oman, in what Tehran described as retaliatory action following Israeli airstrikes in Syria.
