Iran's Response to UAE Accusations at UN Human Rights Session

The spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry dismissed the comments made by the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs regarding the alleged supply of weapons to the Houthi Shiites in Yemen as "baseless" and accused the UAE of having a "direct role and responsibility in committing war crimes" against the people of Yemen. According to the official news agency of the Islamic Republic, IRNA, Bahram Qasemi stated on Wednesday, March 2, that "it is surprising and regrettable that a country that has been directly involved in the destruction of Yemen's infrastructure and committing war crimes for nearly two years accuses others of intervening in Yemen." He emphasized that "the direct responsibility for the crimes committed in Yemen and the strengthening of terrorism there and throughout the region lies with the UAE and other members of the warmongering coalition." Qasemi also noted that the military intervention of the Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia in Yemen has resulted in nothing but the strengthening of terrorists and facilitating their presence in parts of Yemen. Anwar Gargash, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, had accused the Islamic Republic at the 34th session of the UN Human Rights Council of "sending weapons" to the Houthi Shiites in Yemen and "interfering" in the country. In response, Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, accused the UAE military forces of "attacking humanitarian targets" in Yemen, including "homes, mosques, schools, and hospitals." He emphasized that the "power vacuum" caused by the "intervention" of Arab countries in Yemen has created an opportunity for Al-Qaeda in Yemen to regain power. The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister also accused the UAE of providing "ideological, financial, and military support" to the most extreme mercenary terrorists. In February, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs had also urged the Islamic Republic to "change its approach and stop trying to export revolution and interfere in the affairs of Arab countries in the region." These criticisms were described at the time by the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry as "baseless and inappropriate." Relations between Iran and the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, especially Saudi Arabia, have deteriorated significantly over the past year and more due to their support for factions involved in the Syrian and Yemeni civil wars. Iran supports the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, while Saudi Arabia is one of the main supporters of a group of rebels in that country. In Yemen, the situation is reversed, as a coalition led by Riyadh conducts airstrikes against the Houthi rebels to restore power to Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, while Iranian officials support the Houthi rebels and have been accused of "sending weapons" to them. Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic relations with Iran last winter following attacks on its diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad. The UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar also recalled their ambassadors from Tehran in solidarity with Riyadh. Recently, Iranian officials have engaged in talks with Kuwait and Oman, which took place after the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister's visit to Tehran and the exchange of some messages between the parties. The Iranian Foreign Ministry has also described President Hassan Rouhani's recent trip to Oman and Kuwait as a "sign of goodwill" and "indicative of a desire for favorable and balanced relations."