G7 Urges Iran to Cease Arming Houthis in Yemen
G7 foreign ministers have called on Iran to end its support for the Houthis in Yemen and condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, citing threats to global energy security.
Foreign ministers from G7 nations have issued a joint statement urging Iran to "end its arming of and support" for the Houthis in Yemen. The G7 also "condemned in the strongest terms" Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, emphasizing that the recent escalation in fighting poses a significant threat to regional and global energy security.
This call comes ahead of the annual UN General Assembly in New York, where Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to speak. The G7 ministers called on the Houthis to immediately cease all military actions, stop threats and attacks against civilian shipping, and return to the political process in good faith.
Highlights
- The G7 demanded that Iran stop supplying weapons and support to the Houthis in Yemen.
- Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and the escalating conflict in Yemen were condemned.
- The conflict is seen as a threat to global energy security and international trade.
- Thousands of Yemenis have been displaced by recent fighting along the Red Sea coast.
- The G7 reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the legitimate Government of Yemen.
Details
Iran-backed Houthi forces have recently seized territory along Yemen's Red Sea coastline, including areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a crucial global shipping route. This has led to thousands of refugees fleeing Yemen. While Iran has denied supplying weapons to the Houthis, claiming only political support, a UN expert panel concluded that the Houthis have been transformed into a powerful military organization through material, assistance, and training from Iran's Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah.
Saudi Arabia, supporting the Yemeni government, has responded with hundreds of airstrikes in the region. The Houthis, in turn, have launched numerous drones and missiles at cities and infrastructure in southwestern Saudi Arabia, including the capital, Riyadh. The UK and France have also pledged military support to Saudi Arabia. US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering Saudi Arabia's request for military assistance.
Why it matters
The escalating conflict in Yemen not only exacerbates regional instability but also poses serious risks to global energy security and the economy by impacting critical maritime trade routes like the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The G7's involvement highlights the international community's concern over the global implications of the conflict, increasing pressure on the parties to find a political resolution.