U.S. urges Iran to stick by U.N. arms embargo on Yemen
The United States on Tuesday called on Iran to abide by the terms of a new U.N. embargo imposed on Shiite militias in Yemen.
“Obviously Iran plays a role here given their support for the Houthi,” State Department acting spokeswoman Marie Harf told reporters.
“And I think what would be most helpful from the Iranian side at this point is to respect this newly imposed U.N. arms embargo that was just passed today and stop supporting the Houthi,” she said.
Harf added Washington saw the resolution adopted by the U.N. Security Council as “important” as world powers demanded the rebels should relinquish territory seized in a sweeping offensive that forced U.N.-backed President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to flee overseas.
The resolution “really shows the Council will take action quickly in this regard, which is good,” Harf said.
The spokeswoman reiterated that Iran has been “incredibly destabilizing in places in the region” and said the aim was to try to get all sides back to the negotiations on Yemen’s future.
The Houthis have seized swathes of Yemen since they entered the capital Sanaa in September 2014 after sweeping south from their northern stronghold.
An air campaign launched late last month by Saudi Arabia and a coalition of five Gulf monarchies along with Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Sudan has so far failed to stop the rebel advance.
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