Protests Against Nikki Haley's Statements; Zarif: We Will Complain to the UN About the US

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, announced that a complaint will be filed with the United Nations regarding what he termed the 'new accusations from the United States' against Iran. According to the state news agency IRNA, Mr. Zarif, in response to a question from the Russian news agency Sputnik, stated: 'The Iranian side will complain to the UN against the allegations made by the US regarding the delivery of weapons to Yemen.' He declared that the US is making 'baseless accusations by showing a piece of metal against the Islamic Republic of Iran,' adding: 'There is no doubt that Ms. Haley's statements had no evidence and were not convincing even for the Westerners.' Nikki Haley, the US Ambassador to the UN, stated on December 14, during a press conference held next to the remnants of a missile fired by the Houthis towards Saudi Arabia, that Iran had sent this missile to Yemen. Ms. Haley claimed that this missile is the same ballistic missile that the Houthis launched at Riyadh airport, adding that the missile bore the logo of the Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group and matched the specifications of Iranian missiles. The US Ambassador emphasized that 'Iran has violated the Security Council resolution and the JCPOA,' adding: 'Countries around the world see that the JCPOA has not changed Iran's behavior, and Iran continues its destabilizing actions in Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.' According to Nikki Haley, there is no terrorist group in the region that Iran does not support. This American official referred to Tehran's support for groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Palestinian groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Iran denies involvement in terrorist activities and interference in the internal affairs of regional countries, including military assistance to the Houthis in Yemen, and considers the US role in the region 'destructive.' Following Nikki Haley's remarks, Iran's mission to the UN rejected her statements, calling them 'irresponsible, provocative, and destructive.' Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia welcomed the US Ambassador's remarks and condemned Iran's actions in supporting the Houthi Shiite militants. Two days after Ms. Haley's press conference, the French Foreign Ministry stated that it is reviewing the evidence presented by the US. According to Reuters, Alexander Georgini, the spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry, emphasized on Saturday, December 16, that his country has concerns about Iran's missile program, adding: 'Paris is still reviewing and has not yet reached a conclusion.' Previously, Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, had called on Iran to cease aggressive behavior in the region and clarify its missile program. Following the Yemeni civil war and the relative dominance of the Houthi Shiites in Yemen, Saudi Arabia, along with its Arab allies, began airstrikes on this country on March 26, 2015, and besieged Yemen's ports and passages. Despite the regional coalition's attacks led by Saudi Arabia, the Houthi rebels still control Sanaa, the capital, and most of northern Yemen. Since the beginning of the regional coalition's attacks on Yemen, according to the World Health Organization, 8,750 people, most of whom were civilians, have lost their lives. On Tuesday, Jamie McGoldrick, the UN humanitarian coordinator, warned that 8.4 million people in Yemen are on the brink of famine.