US warned Iran on Yemen arms shipments

“What we’ve said to them is that ‘if there are weapons delivered to factions within Yemen that could threaten navigation, that’s a problem.’ And we’re not sending them obscure messages – we send them very direct messages about it,” Obama said.

The warning came amid reports that Iranian ships may be on their way to provide arms to Shiite rebels, known as Houthis, who have overtaken parts of Yemen and driven out the country’s leadership.

“Right now their ships are in international waters,” said Obama during the interview with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews on Tuesday. “There’s a reason why we keep some of our ships in the Persian Gulf region and that is to make sure we maintain freedom of navigation. And what we’ve said to them is if there are weapons delivered to factions within Yemen that could threaten navigation, that’s a problem.”

On Monday, a US aircraft carrier was sent to Yemen’s coast to help prevent any shipment of Iranian arms.

Obama has said that Iranian involvement in the Yemen crisis would only complicate efforts to find a solution.

 

Read More: Obama: US warned Iran on Yemen arms shipments – Israel News, Ynetnews