Yemen FM says country is not Iran’s bargaining chip
Yemen is not an Iranian bargaining chip and its future must be decided by Yemenis through their state and national political process, Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba of Yemen’s internationally recognized government said in an interview published Friday by the Foreign Ministry.
“Yemen is not compensation for anyone’s losses in another arena, nor an arena for settling scores, nor a bargaining chip to improve the regional negotiating position of any regional power,” al-Zouba said.
She said restoring the Yemeni state’s authority over its coast, ports and islands was essential to regional security and freedom of navigation, particularly in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, where Houthi advances along the western coast posed a serious threat to shipping.
“We reject Iranian support that strengthens Houthi capabilities and uses Yemen’s geography to threaten neighboring countries and maritime routes,” al-Zouba said.
She said Yemen’s crisis predated the US-Iran war but that the wider regional conflict had made the situation more complicated.