In an emergency session of the UN Security Council, Tammy Bruce, the Deputy US Representative to the Council, leveled direct and sharp accusations against Iran, holding it fully responsible for threatening the stability of the Arab Gulf states and undermining peace efforts in the region. Bruce confirmed that Tehran continues to blatantly and consistently violate Yemen’s sovereignty and breach UN Security Council resolutions through its direct support for the Houthi group.
Suspicious Flights and Infiltration of Yemeni Sovereignty
During the meeting, Bruce revealed the tracking of an Iranian plane that landed in the Houthi-controlled capital, Sana’a, arriving directly from Tehran. She explained that the primary objective of this flight was to transport members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, including experts specializing in drone development and missile technology, to bolster the Houthis’ military capabilities. She noted that this provocative operation was conducted under a misleading diplomatic cover, using the pretext of sending Houthi officials to attend the funeral of the former Iranian leader.
Threatening Maritime Security and Escalating Military Capabilities
The Deputy US Representative emphasized that this intensive Iranian support grants the Houthis increasing capabilities to target the Yemeni people, as well as putting the freedom of international navigation in the Red Sea and surrounding vital waterways at genuine risk. Bruce described this level of overt support as the most dangerous since Mahan Air’s failed attempt to fly to Sana’a in 2015, reflecting a severe escalation in the trajectory of the crisis.
Blatant Violation of UN Resolutions and Arms Embargo
Bruce stressed that these Iranian actions represent a direct and explicit violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2216, which clearly prohibits the transfer of weapons and military equipment, as well as the provision of any technical or training assistance for Houthi military activities. She added that the advanced military capabilities the Houthis now possess, particularly regarding cross-border missile attacks and drone strikes, serve as conclusive evidence of the ongoing, systematic violation of the international arms embargo.
Ongoing Challenges to Legitimacy and Regional Security
In the same context, Bruce announced the tracking of another Iranian flight that arrived in Yemeni territory in clear defiance of the legitimate Yemeni government’s orders to cancel it. The Deputy US Representative concluded her remarks by asserting that Tehran’s continued disregard for the sovereignty of the Yemeni state and resolutions of international legitimacy is completely unacceptable. She pointed out that the Iranian regime continues its destabilizing policies through direct attacks or by utilizing its proxies and loyalist forces to threaten neighboring countries and international shipping.
