In a recent development, Iran's deputy foreign minister, Ali Bagheri, dismissed U.S. accusations that Tehran was involved in attacks by Yemeni rebels on commercial ships. Bagheri stated that the Houthi rebels were acting on their own accord and that they have their own tools and capabilities to carry out attacks. He emphasized that the strength of the resistance in the region should not be questioned, as certain powers like the U.S. and Israel have suffered strikes from the resistance movement.

Furthermore, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian revealed that the U.S. had previously asked Iran to advise the Yemeni rebels not to act against American and Israeli interests in the region. Amir-Abdollahian made it clear that Iran had not ordered the rebels to stop their attacks and that they have decided to support Gaza based on their own interests.

The context of these attacks on commercial ships by the Houthi rebels is rooted in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The rebels have launched more than 100 drone and missile attacks, targeting 10 merchant vessels in the Red Sea, in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The Pentagon confirmed these attacks and accused Iran of providing the rebels with drones, missiles, and tactical intelligence.

The U.S. has now stepped up its accusations against Iran, publicly releasing intelligence that proves Iran's deep involvement in planning the operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea. National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson stated that there is no reason to believe that Iran is trying to dissuade the Houthis from their reckless behavior.

The United States, along with defense officials from dozens of countries, the European Union, and NATO, held an emergency meeting to address these attacks, which they deemed as “reckless” and “dangerous” violations of international law. The USS Carney, a guided missile destroyer, has already shot down 14 attack drones suspected to have been fired from Houthi-controlled regions of Yemen.

As a result of these attacks, energy giant BP has decided to temporarily suspend all gas and oil shipments in the Red Sea, while the U.S. has established a multinational naval task force of more than 20 countries to protect vessels transiting the area. The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower has also entered the Gulf of Aden to demonstrate a show of force.

The White House has presented visual analysis that shows similarities between Iranian drones and the ones used by the Houthis, as well as consistent features between Iranian and Houthi missiles. The Houthis also rely on Iranian-provided monitoring systems at sea, according to the White House. Iranian-provided tactical intelligence has been crucial in enabling Houthi targeting of maritime vessels since November.

It is important to note that the Houthi attacks on commercial ships have raised concerns about the fragile peace in Yemen. The Houthis and the Saudi-backed government have maintained a truce since April 2022, putting an end to a devastating war that caused a humanitarian crisis. However, the recent attacks threaten to escalate tensions and potentially disrupt the peace process.

In the midst of this conflict, Israel has been carrying out relentless bombardments and a ground invasion of Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 20,000 people, mostly women and children, according to Hamas authorities. Iran openly supports Hamas and hails the October 7 attack on Israel, although it denies direct involvement. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas, and the situation remains tense.

These recent developments highlight the complex dynamics in the region and the involvement of multiple actors. The accusations between the U.S. and Iran, coupled with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, have created a volatile situation with potential ramifications for regional stability. The international community will be closely watching as tensions continue to escalate.