Trump Claims Iran Responsible for Houthi Attacks; Tehran's Reaction

The Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations expressed concern in a letter to the Secretary-General of the organization and the President of the Security Council regarding Donald Trump's statements warning about the continuation of Houthi attacks on Tehran. The U.S. President stated that if the Houthi militia from Yemen carries out more attacks, Iran will be held responsible and will face 'severe' consequences for such actions. On Monday, March 18, Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, 'From this moment on, every bullet fired by the Houthis will be considered a shot from the weapons and leadership of Iran, and Iran will be responsible for it and will face the consequences. These consequences will be severe.' He described the Houthi group as 'created' by Iran and stated that any potential retaliatory attacks from them in response to recent U.S. military actions would be met with 'great force.' Trump also claimed that Iran plays the role of an 'innocent victim' of the Houthis, whom he labeled as 'rogue terrorists,' asserting that Iran has lost control over them. He emphasized that, contrary to this claim, Tehran has not lost control over this militia group. The U.S. President stated that Iran dictates every move to the Houthis, providing them with weapons, money, advanced military equipment, and even 'intelligence.' In response, Amir Saeed Iravani condemned Trump's statements in a letter to Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, and Christina Markus Lassen, the rotating President of the Security Council, expressing deep concern. Iravani wrote that 'provocative rhetoric is a clear violation of the fundamental principles of international law and the UN Charter, which prohibits threats or the use of force against independent states... The Islamic Republic of Iran firmly rejects and condemns these reckless and provocative statements.' He also added that 'the Islamic Republic of Iran warns that any aggressive action will have severe consequences, for which the United States will bear full responsibility.' The Houthi militia, which controls vast areas of Yemen, has threatened to resume attacks on ships in the Red Sea in response to recent U.S. attacks. The Islamic Republic of Iran considers this group, which has recently returned to the U.S. list of terrorist organizations, as part of the 'resistance axis' that includes its proxy groups in the region. Meanwhile, the U.S. Secretary of State announced on Sunday that the recent airstrikes against Houthi positions were a message to Tehran, and the U.S. Secretary of Defense indicated that it is now time for Tehran to retreat, referring to Iran's long-standing support for this group. The Iranian-supported Houthis, who have begun attacking military and commercial ships since the onset of the Gaza war and have fired missiles and drones towards Israel several times, claimed that 53 people were killed in the U.S. airstrikes on various areas of Yemen on Saturday night. The U.S. Central Command, CENTCOM, stated that fighter jets stationed on an American ship in the Red Sea began a series of airstrikes against Houthi positions. On the same day, Trump announced that he had ordered the U.S. military to begin decisive and powerful military action against the Houthis, warning them that if they did not stop their actions, including targeting ships and launching missiles towards Israel, 'hell will be unleashed upon you.' The Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the U.S. attacks on Houthi positions, and Hossein Salami, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards, warned that 'we will respond to any threat that takes on a practical aspect with a tough, decisive, and devastating reaction.'