US Accuses Iran of providing weapons to Houthi rebels in Yemen

World Today

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations has unveiled what she says is “irrefutable evidence” that Iran has violated international obligations by providing Houthi rebels in Yemen with weapons. Nikki Haley said Iran had repeatedly gone against regulations and tried to cover up weapons transfers and ballistic missile activity. CGTN’s Nick Harper reports from New York.

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, chose a military base outside of Washington, DC to unveil previously classified information. Standing in front of a display of missile parts, she detailed what she referred to as “devastating” evidence of Iran supplying weapons to Houthi rebels in Yemen.

She said the parts included markings and “Iranian missile fingerprints,” all of which violated U.N. resolutions against the country. She referred to pieces of missile behind her which the US claims was fired last month from Yemen by the Houthis into Saudi Arabia, targeting the civilian airport in the capital Riyadh.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley unveils previously classified information intending to prove Iran violated UNSCR 2231 by providing the Houthi rebels in Yemen with arms during a press conference at Joint Base Anacostia in Washington, DC, on December 14, 2017.
Haley said Thursday that a missile fired by Huthi militants at Saudi Arabia last month had been made in Iran. “It was made in Iran then sent to Huthi militants in Yemen,” Haley said of the missile.

AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON 

“This evidence is part of what has led the US intelligence community to conclude unequivocally that these weapons were supplied by the Iranian regime, “Haley said. “The evidence is undeniable. The weapons might as well have had made in Iran stickers all over it.”

Iran has denied it provided weapons to the Houthis, saying the evidence is fabricated. Haley said the international community needs to help protect the world from Iran’s “malign activities.” And she warned Iran could become the next Democratic People’s Republic of Korea if other countries do nothing to stop Tehran’s violations.

Haley’s comments follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s move to decertify the Iran nuclear deal. He has until mid-January to decide if the US will re-impose unilateral sanctions against the Islamic Republic.