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Saudi calls on UN to put sanctions on Iran

September 19, 2016 at 3:40 pm

Saudi Arabia is calling on the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions on Iran for Arming Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The Gulf monarchy accuses Iran of arming the rebels in direct violations of UN Resolution 2216 which called on all countries to freeze arm sales to the Houthi rebels who seized the capital Sana’a in 2014.

In a letter addressed to New Zealand, who takes over the council’s presidency, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the United Nations Abdallah Al-Mouallimi made clear the number of violations to the resolution including cross-border militia rocket attacks by the Houthis and forces loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, reported Al-Arabiya.

Al-Mouallimi added that the smuggling of weapons did not only pose as a violation to Security Council resolutions but also threatened the stability of Saudi, Yemen and the region as a whole.

Iran’s UN Mission “categorically” rejected the allegations, saying the claims have not been independently verified.

Iran has been shipping weapons to Yemen’s Houthi rebels at least since 2009, according to a confidential UN report, indicating that Tehran’s support dates back to the early years of the Shia militia’s insurgency.

A statement from Iran’s UN Mission said: “Iran does not believe in a military solution in Yemen and has always urged for cessation of hostilities, dialogue and resort to legal and peaceful mechanisms to achieve a peaceful resolution to this conflict.”

Yemen is expected to be the focus of talks at the UN General Assembly meeting in New York which begins today.

Read: UK MPs call for halt in arms sales to Saudi