Tehran: US destabilizes situation in Yemen

Tehran has denied claims of the US officials alleging that Iran has been supplying weapons to the conflict-torn Yemen, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said Monday. 

"Such false claims are made while warmongers and traders of death and destruction keep on selling and shipping fatal weapons to Saudi Arabia despite widespread criticism and opposition made by awakened conscience and non-governmental organizations," the IRNA news agency cited Qasemi as saying.

He added that a large number of lethal weapons, bombs and US-made missiles used by the Saudi-led coalition were targeting the Yemeni civilian infrastructure and population. 

On Thursday, US Naval Forces Central Commander Vice Adm. Kevin Donegan expressed concerns that Iran might be involved in the delivery of weapons to the Houthis in Yemen, including coastal defense cruise missiles. According to the official, the US Navy and its international partners have intercepted five shipments of weaponry from Iran since April 2015, allegedly heading to the Houthis. 

Since 2014, Yemen has been engulfed in a military conflict between the government and the Houthi rebels, the country’s main opposition force.