US says Iran ‘deeply involved’ in Red Sea attacks on commercial vessels
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The Galaxy Leader cargo ship is escorted by Houthi boats in the Red Sea in this photo released on Nov 20.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON - Iran was “deeply involved” in planning operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea,
The Iran-backed Houthis, who say their attacks are in support of Palestinians under siege by Israel in Gaza, have targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea with drones and missiles, forcing shippers to change course and take longer routes around the southern tip of Africa.
“We know that Iran was deeply involved in planning the operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea. This is consistent with Iran’s long-term material support and encouragement of the Houthis’ destabilising actions in the region,” White House national security spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement.
“This is an international challenge that demands collective action,” she added.
Iran denies involvement in attacks by the Houthis in the Red Sea.
However, Iranian media reported on Dec 23 that an Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander said the Mediterranean Sea could be closed if the United States and its allies continued to commit “crimes” in Gaza, without explaining how that would happen.
“They shall soon await the closure of the Mediterranean Sea, (the Strait of) Gibraltar and other waterways,” Tasnim quoted Brigadier-General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, coordinating commander of the Guards, as saying.
Iran has no direct access to the Mediterranean itself and it was not clear how the Guards could attempt to close it off, although the general talked of “the birth of new powers of resistance and the closure of other waterways”.
“Yesterday, the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz became a nightmare for them, and today they are trapped... in the Red Sea,” he was quoted as saying.
The US on Dec 18 announced a naval coalition involving 20 countries
