While President Trump continues his 12-day tour of Asia, the White House has condemned the missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi militias on Saudi Arabia and said Iran “enabled” the launch amid increasing instability in the Middle East.
In a statement, the White House said: “Houthi missile attacks against Saudi Arabia, enabled by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, threaten regional security and undermine UN efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict.”
The news comes after Saudi Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman accused Iran of arming militias – something he branded a “clear act of aggression” which could be considered “an act of war”.
Iran has denied the accusations and instead mocked Saudi Arabia.
The country’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif posted on Twitter this week: “KSA [the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia] bombs Yemen to smithereens, killing 1000s of innocents including babies, spreads cholera and famine, but of course blames Iran.
“KSA is engaged in wars of aggression, regional bullying, destabilising behaviour & risky provocations. It blames Iran for the consequences.”
Yesterday, Iran’s deputy foreign minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi has accused Washington of trying to “cloud the atmosphere” for foreign firms considering investing in Iran after President Trump declared the US would decertify the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran last month.
The 2015 deal saw the US, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany agree to gradually lift sanctions on Iran in return for a peaceful nuclear programme.
Speaking at a conference in Paris, Mr Takht-Ravanchi has confirmed Iran will not be the first to leave the deal, but warned the country is preparing itself for every scenario.
On Saturday, Saudi Arabia intercepted a missile fired from Yemen close to a major airport – which has prompted a rapid decline in relations between the longterm foes.
The missile is believed to have been fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, with the backing of the Iranian regime.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have been fighting against the internationally-recognised government, headed by President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, in a civil war that started in 2015.
The rebels, backed by Iran, have seized control of the capital Sanaa and forced the government into exile.
Yemen’s Houthi-controlled defence ministry said the missile attack “shook the Saudi capital” and branded the operation a success.
It added the ‘Burqan H-2’ missile was produced in Yemen.
Forces in Saudi Arabia have reported shooting down a number of missiles fired by the rebel group over the past few months.