Houthis appoint TV-station boss as ambassador to Iran
The internationally recognised government of Yemen condemned a move by Houthi rebels to appoint the head of their own TV station as an ambassador to Iran.
President Abdrabu Mansur Hadi’s government described it as “a flagrant violation of international laws and customs”. The Houthi- run Al Masirah TV said on Saturday night that Ibrahim Al Dailami had been appointed “ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary for the republic of Yemen to the Islamic republic of Iran”.
Mr Al Dailami is the director-general of Al Masirah TV.
The rebel group is not recognised as the government of Yemen but, after seizing the capital Sanaa in 2015, has been claiming to be the administration and has made appointments accordingly.
Most countries do not recognise these appointments but, as their main political and military backer, Iran appears to have treated the latest appointment as it would any other. The state-run Irna new agency reported the news, quoting Houthi leader Abdulmalek Al Houthi as having “praised Iran’s clear and frank support for Yemen”.
Mr Hadi severed ties with Iran in 2015 over the country’s support for the Houthis.
“The exchange of diplomatic relations between Tehran regime and Houthi militias breaches international laws and norms and contravenes United Nations Security Council resolutions related to the Yemen crisis,” the government said.
It said the announcement exposed the relationship between the Houthis and Iran.
The announcement came after Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei held talks in Tehran on Tuesday with a Houthi delegation led by Mohammed Abdul Salam.
Mr Al Dailami attended the meeting with Mr Khamenei, who renewed his support for the Houthi rebels.