MOKHA TAKEOVER:
The Houthis’ entry into a Red Sea port threatens an important waterway, while Riyadh said it has the right to defense in response to the group
The Iranian government yesterday called for an end to Saudi Arabia’s blockade of Yemen and the immediate resumption of talks, in its first public statement since Iran-backed Houthi rebels entered a key Yemeni port and intensified their threat to a key global shipping alternative to the Strait of Hormuz.In a statement carried by the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Yemen’s sovereignty must be respected and its problems cannot be resolved through a blockade or military alliances.Iran said it was ready to help support negotiations.
Houthi militants ride a motorbike in Sana’a on Thursday.
Meanwhile, experts say the developments in Yemen could give Tehran more leverage in any negotiations with the US after more than six months of war.The Houthis’ entry into the Red Sea port of Mokha on Thursday brought the group within 80km of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, an important alternative for global shipping as Iran targets vessels on the Strait of Hormuz.
