The U.S. Calls for Global Pressure on the Islamic Republic to Halt Houthi Attacks

On Wednesday, the United States welcomed the release of a new United Nations report regarding the threats posed by Yemen's Houthis to international shipping. The UN special envoy for Yemen called for immediate action to end the 'dangerous escalation cycle' of tensions in the war-torn country, referencing recent Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea. The UN report urged de-escalation in the region, all parties to refrain from 'military opportunism,' and support for progress towards an agreement. Houthi attacks on commercial vessels have prompted military responses from the U.S. and its allies. Following the UN report, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations stated that the envoy's report on Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea, prepared at the request of the Security Council, clarifies the level of threats posed by the Houthis and the necessity of pursuing the Security Council's request for the Houthis to cease their attacks. The U.S. claims its actions against the Houthis have been defensive. The Houthis have attempted to attack U.S. Navy vessels as well. The United States has deployed its forces to the region's waters to ensure the security of commercial ships against Houthi attacks. The U.S. Mission to the UN stated that the United States does not seek to escalate conflicts in the region. The statement asserts that the Islamic Republic of Iran 'cannot deny its role in enabling [the Houthis] to carry out attacks [on ships] and supporting' them. The U.S. Mission's statement claims that since 2014, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has provided advanced and growing weaponry to the Houthis, which they have used to attack commercial ships in the Red Sea. The U.S. states that this action by the IRGC violates UN Security Council resolutions 2140 and 2216. The U.S. claims that between 2015 and 2023, it and its partners have seized at least 18 vessels illegally smuggling weapons to the Houthis, confiscating ballistic missile, cruise missile, anti-ship parts, drones, and other prohibited weapons from them. The U.S. also states that last month, U.S. Navy forces detained a ship that was illegally transporting advanced lethal weapons, including advanced ballistic missile and cruise missile parts made in Iran, to Houthi militants in Yemen. The U.S. Mission once again urged all member states, particularly those with direct ties to Iran, to pressure the Iranian leadership to restrain the Houthis and stop their illegal attacks. The U.S. claims that rerouting any ship due to Houthi attacks adds about 10 days to their journey and increases the fuel cost of a one-way route between Asia and Europe by one million dollars. The U.S. Mission also stated that the Houthis continue to besiege Yemeni cities and prevent the transfer of food, water, and humanitarian aid to civilians, revealing their 'duplicity.' The United States reiterated its call for the Houthis to release the 25 crew members of the MV Galaxy, who were taken hostage nearly three months ago. Parts of this report are based on a report by Agence France-Presse.