Rouhani Calls Saudi Intervention in Yemen a 'Strategic Mistake'

The President of Iran described the Saudi government as 'very inexperienced' and labeled its military intervention in Yemen as a 'strategic mistake' and an 'unjust attack.' In a report by the state news agency IRNA, Hassan Rouhani referred to Saudi Arabia as an 'enemy.' On Saturday, May 8, Rouhani stated that Saudi Arabia is an 'enemy' that 'always operates with dollars,' but has now chosen bombs. The use of the term 'enemy' to refer to Saudi Arabia in the IRNA report contrasts with other Iranian news agencies that used the term 'country' instead. Iran-Saudi relations have soured, particularly in recent weeks over Yemen, with the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoning the Saudi chargé d'affaires in Tehran twice in the past two weeks to protest attacks on the Houthis and the prevention of Iranian planes landing in Sana'a. The Iranian government has claimed these planes were carrying aid for the war-affected people of Yemen. Rouhani, referring to the recent clashes in Yemen, said: 'That neighbor, instead of helping, is dropping bombs on the people with planes purchased from major powers, whose pilots and funding sources are unknown.' He added: 'A government that does not understand the political issues of the region and the world is very inexperienced and has come to show itself for the first time.' Rouhani emphasized: 'An enemy that always operates with dollars has now come to change the command and has chosen bombs, thinking that by using bombs it will show that this country is powerful and influential and will achieve its goals.' Meanwhile, several appointees of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, including the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Head of the Supreme Leader's Office, have stated in recent weeks that the Saudi government will be 'overthrown.' In another part of his speech, Rouhani called Yemen a 'historical test for the world' and added: 'If they prevent the delivery of Iranian aid under false pretenses, they should come and receive our aid and deliver it to the oppressed people of Yemen.' The Iranian President urged members of the Iranian Red Crescent to 'pressure the International Red Cross; the government will also do this, but your voice as Red Crescent members is louder than the voice of the government.' Meanwhile, according to the IRNA news agency, the Al-Alam television network announced that an Iranian ship 'carrying food and medicine to assist the people of Yemen' left Bandar Abbas in southern Iran for the shores of Yemen on Friday. According to Ali-Asghar Ahmadi, Secretary-General of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, the ship carrying this cargo will be dispatched to Yemen via the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, and its arrival time at the destination will be about 10 days under normal conditions. The departure of this Iranian ship to Yemen comes as Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi Foreign Minister, accused Iran on Thursday, May 6, of attempting to send weapons to the Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen by air and sea. Meanwhile, international media had previously reported that nine Iranian warships suspected of carrying weapons for the Houthi rebels returned to Iran after the presence of the U.S. Navy fleet led by the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the waters around Yemen. Iranian officials have repeatedly denied accusations of sending weapons to the Houthi rebels in Yemen. For instance, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated on Wednesday, May 5, 'The Yemenis do not need our weapons; all military bases in Yemen are under the control of the Ansarullah group.' On Friday, Saudi Arabia announced a five-day humanitarian ceasefire for Yemen, which will take effect from Tuesday, May 10.