The United States accused Russia of holding discussions with the Yemeni Ansar Allah (Houthis) group to supply it with weapons, according to Agence France-Presse.
The US special envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking, said in a statement to the agency – on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York – that Moscow is “concluding its own deals” with the Houthis to allow its ships to pass unharmed.
Lenderking added, “We have confirmation that the Russians and the Houthis are discussing ways to cooperate,” including the transfer of weapons.
He continued, “We do not know if weapons are being transferred as we speak, but the matter has reached a point that requires all of us to sound the alarm to ensure that this does not happen.”
Lenderking stressed that if arms transfers were to take place, “it would likely change the conflict significantly,” warning of an “escalation” that would derail the currently stalled efforts to end the decade-long conflict in Yemen.
He also warned that “the idea of the Russians supplying the Houthis with lethal weapons greatly raises the concerns of the countries of the region,” he claimed.
Relations between Russia and the United States have deteriorated sharply since the start of the Russian war in Ukraine, as Washington leads Western countries to impose sanctions on Moscow and arm Kiev.
Intensive diplomatic efforts
The American envoy pointed to intensive diplomatic efforts on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings to limit attacks in the Red Sea.
He said that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken discussed the Yemen crisis with the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries in New York on Wednesday.
He noted that he and his team held “meetings with the Saudis, Emiratis, Omanis, and the Yemeni government this week.”
He continued, “I think we are all looking for the right set of pressures and incentives to encourage the Houthis to withdraw from the Red Sea,” stressing that a diplomatic solution is optimal.
When asked about Iran’s role in the discussions between Russia and the Houthis, the American envoy responded by saying, “Iran is always looking for ways to protect and promote the interests of the Houthis.”
Iranian mediation
Earlier, Western and regional sources said that Iran is mediating in ongoing secret talks between Russia and the Houthi group in Yemen to transfer anti-ship missiles to the Houthis, a development that highlights the growing relations between Tehran and Moscow, according to Reuters.
Seven sources told the agency that Russia has not yet decided to transfer the Yakhont missiles, also known as the P-800 Onyx, which experts said would allow the Houthis to strike commercial ships in the Red Sea with greater accuracy, and increase the threat to American and European warships that provide protection for shipping traffic.
In July, the Wall Street Journal reported that Russia was considering sending missiles, but Iranian mediation had not previously been reported in the press.
Two regional officials familiar with the talks told Reuters that the Houthis and the Russians have met in Tehran at least twice this year and that talks are underway to provide dozens of missiles with a range of approximately 300 kilometers, and other meetings are expected to be held in Tehran in the coming weeks.
Neither Iran’s mission to the United Nations nor the Russian Defense Ministry responded to requests for comment.
The Houthi group has launched numerous attacks with drones and missiles on Israeli ships or those heading to Israel via the Red Sea since November in support of the Gaza Strip.
These attacks caused the sinking of at least two ships and the seizure of a third, disrupting global maritime trade by forcing shipping companies to divert ships, and raising insurance costs for ships sailing in the Red Sea.
