US House of Representatives Proposes Sanctions on Iran for 'Destabilizing Role in Yemen'

Two Republican lawmakers in the United States House of Representatives have introduced a proposal calling for sanctions against Tehran for what they describe as its 'destabilizing role' and 'continuation of the war' in Yemen. According to a statement released on Ted Poe's page, this Republican representative, along with another party colleague named Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who is the chair of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, has called for sanctions against Iran. In the statement regarding the proposed measure, Poe states, 'The escalating chaos in Yemen is another example of Iran's destabilizing role in the Middle East.' According to Mr. Poe, 'The Houthi rebels are supported economically, militarily, and logistically by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.' Ms. Ros-Lehtinen also stated, 'Iran's increasing support for the Houthis has raised doubts about the possibility of a political solution to the Yemen crisis far more than before.' This U.S. lawmaker reiterated Washington's accusations of 'transferring advanced weaponry' to the Houthis and threatening these weapons against Saudi Arabia and U.S. forces in the region. Ted Poe asserts that Iranian officials 'must be held accountable for the chaos and war they continue in Yemen.' Iranian officials have repeatedly denied similar accusations regarding the transfer of weapons to the Houthi rebels. The rebels themselves have also denied receiving weaponry such as missiles from Iran. Senior Iranian officials do not hide their support for the Houthi rebels. The commander of the Revolutionary Guard also stated earlier in December that 'the government [in Yemen] is in the hands of Ansar Allah (the Houthi rebels) and our assistance is mainly advisory and largely spiritual.' From the perspective of the United Nations, the current government in Yemen is still led by Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi; the Yemeni president who is supported by Riyadh, and the Saudi-led coalition has launched extensive airstrikes and a blockade on Yemen to restore power to him. The Hill website, which focuses on reports and news related to the U.S. Congress, states that the preliminary proposal by the two Republican representatives for new sanctions against Iran related to Yemen has been presented alongside two other proposals also concerning Iran. The two proposals currently awaiting a vote in the House of Representatives include one related to a report from the U.S. Department of the Treasury regarding the reform of sanctions against the use of financial resources by Iranian officials for the development of ballistic missile technology, and the other concerning financial transactions related to the sale of commercial aircraft to Iran. The U.S. House of Representatives voted on a non-binding resolution regarding Yemen in the last days of Aban, condemning the targeting of civilians during the battles and emphasizing the 'necessity of reaching a political solution,' stating that no specific authorization has been issued regarding U.S. involvement in the battles. At that time, Ro Khanna, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives, stated: 'This resolution clearly indicates that we cannot assist in any of the battles that the [Saudi] government is conducting against the Houthi government. We must limit all our interventions to battles against al-Qaeda and terrorists that are considered a threat to the United States.' Of course, the resolution drafted by Ro Khanna also included sanctions against Iran for its role in Yemen. The United States has repeatedly criticized what it calls Iran's 'destabilizing actions' in the Middle East. At the same time, in recent days, the U.S. has emphasized that Saudi Arabia should not obstruct the transfer of humanitarian aid to Yemeni civilians. The United Nations recently increased its estimates of Yemeni citizens on the brink of famine to 8.4 million. The World Food Program stated on Tuesday that the blockade of Yemen is pushing the country towards a 'humanitarian catastrophe.' According to the United Nations, since the escalation of the conflict due to the Houthi uprising and the Saudi-led coalition's attack on Yemen, more than 10,000 people have been killed, over two million displaced, and one million have been grappling with a cholera outbreak.