Iran's UN Representative Confirms Arming Palestinian Groups but Denies Supplying Weapons to Houthis

The Iranian ambassador and representative to the UN stated in an interview with NBC that the Iranian government has a 'defensive pact' with Palestinian groups and strengthens them by sending weapons and training, but does not play a role in their actions. Amir Saeed Iravani, in response to a question about the Islamic Republic's support for other proxy militants in the region, told the NBC host: 'We do not direct them or command them, but we do not withhold training and empowering these groups and we have joint consultations.' He also rejected US allegations regarding the provision of advanced weapons to Yemen's Houthis by the Islamic Republic, emphasizing that the Houthis act independently in their attacks on ships in the Red Sea and do not receive orders from Tehran. The United States and other governments have long accused the Iranian government of arming, training, and financing a network of proxy forces in Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. The US Defense Intelligence Agency announced on Tuesday that analysis of released images shows the Houthis are using Iranian-made ballistic missiles and drones to target commercial ships in the Red Sea. The British newspaper Telegraph reported on January 9, citing its intelligence sources within Iran, that the Houthi group has been trained at the 'Khamenei University of Marine Sciences and Technologies' in Zibakenar, Rasht, and that Ali Khamenei personally oversees their activities. Israel also announced on Tuesday, February 6, that it had obtained documents at Hamas's headquarters indicating that the Islamic Republic has sent approximately $154 million to Hamas terrorists and Yahya Sinwar over the past six years. New documents reveal Israel's significant financial support to Hamas. Active US diplomacy in the Middle East; receiving a response from Hamas and increasing hopes for a ceasefire and hostage exchanges. Blinken in Doha: The Islamic Republic is a supporter of proxies opposed to peace in the region. New Israeli estimates: 32 out of 136 remaining hostages in Gaza have died. In the second stop of his Middle East trip, Antony Blinken went to Egypt.