Iran dismisses Kerry’s remarks over intervention in Yemen

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has rejected as a blame game recent remarks made by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who accused the Islamic Republic of intervening in Yemen.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham said on Wednesday that Kerry’s recent comments accusing Iran of aiding the collapse of the Yemeni government constituted a blame game and contradicted previous remarks made by US officials.

“All sides should allow the Yemeni nation to determine the country’s fate by itself; and all mechanisms should be based on the people’s will and demands,” Afkham said, adding that Iran firmly believes in and respects the right of every nation to determine its fate.

She said any foreign intervention in the course of the political developments in Yemen would complicate the political situation there and would obstruct the realization of political stability in the Arab country.

On Tuesday, Kerry accused Iran of supporting the Shiite Houthi revolutionaries, also known as Ansarullah fighters, in the takeover of the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, and the fall of the government.

“I think it (Iran) contributed to it (the collapse of the Yemeni government),” Kerry said, adding, “But I do know that the Iranians were surprised by the events that took place and are hoping to see a national dialogue take place.”

In September 2014, Ansarullah movement gained control of Sana’a following a four-day battle with army forces loyal to General Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar, the half-brother of the country’s former dictator, Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Before gaining control of the capital, the Houthis had set a deadline for the political parties to put aside differences and fill the power vacuum, but the deadline was missed without any change in the country’s political scene.

On January 22, Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi and the cabinet of Prime Minister Khaled Bahah resigned. The Yemeni parliament rejected Hadi’s resignation. Hadi sent a letter to the parliament on Monday, withdrawing his resignation.

On February 6, Yemen’s Houthi movement dissolved the Yemeni parliament and announced a constitutional declaration on the Transitional National Council following weeks of clashes with government forces.

The Ansarullah revolutionaries say the Yemeni government has been incapable of properly running the affairs of the country and providing security.

The Houthi movement played a key role in the popular revolution that forced Saleh to step down after 33 years of rule.