US CALLS FOR INT’L ACTION VS IRAN
US says Tehran accountable for supplying Yemeni rebels with missiles they fired into Saudi Arabia
RIYADH— The United States called on Tuesday for international action to hold Iran to account after Saudi Arabia accused Tehran of “direct military aggression” over a Yemeni rebel missile attack near Riyadh.
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels also threatened to attack ports and airports in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), escalating a crisis between Riyadh and Tehran.
Saudi Arabia’s powerful crown prince had accused Iran of supplying missiles to the Houthis, which he said “could be considered as an act of war.”
‘Contrary to reality’
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif retorted that “the allegations by Saudi officials were contrary to reality,” the foreign ministry said.
Washington’s ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said on Tuesday that Iran had supplied a missile to the Houthis that was fired into Saudi Arabia in July, and referred to Riyadh’s claim that the weapon used on Saturday “may also be of Iranian origin.”
Violation of 2 resolutions
“By providing these types of weapons to the Houthi militias in Yemen, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is violating two UN resolutions simultaneously,” Haley said.
“We encourage the United Nations and international partners to take necessary action to hold the Iranian regime accountable for these violations.”
Saudi Arabia and Iran back rival sides in wars from Yemen to Syria, and soaring tensions between the key oil producers pushed crude closer to two-year highs on Tuesday.
Europe’s top diplomat Federica Mogherini warned the mounting tension was “extremely dangerous.”
Saturday’s attack showed that the Houthis have retained missiles capable of striking targets inside the kingdom.
The rebels warned that they considered Saudi and UAE “airports, ports, border crossings and areas of any importance” as legitimate targets.
Destroyed near Riyadh
The missile, destroyed near Riyadh international airport, was the first to reach the Saudi capital and underscored the growing fallout for the two countries from their involvement in Yemen.
Since Saturday’s attack, the Saudi-led coalition has tightened its blockade of rebel-held areas of Yemen.—