'Iran trying to prolong Yemen civil war to project power'

Washington: The United States on Thursday accused Iran of trying to prolong Yemen's civil war to project its power.

"Iran is trying to prolong Yemen's civil war to project power. Iran should follow the calls of its own people and end its involvement in Yemen."

Yemeni people have suffered far too long, and Iran has no legitimate interest in Yemen," State Department Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook told reporters here. At a news conference, he said that on November

25, a US warship conducted a flag verification boarding in international waters off the coast of Yemen.

"We interdicted a significant hoard of weapons and missile parts," he said.

Displaying pictures, Hook said the seizure included sophisticated weapons, components of anti-ship cruise missiles, land-attack cruise missiles, air defense missiles, and anti-tank missiles.

The vessel reportedly was heading to Yemen to deliver these weapons, he said, adding the weapon components comprise the most sophisticated weapons seized by the US Navy to date during the Yemen conflict.

"This discovery is yet more proof of Iran's efforts to inflame conflicts in the region by proliferating deadly weapons to its proxies."

"It is also further evidence of how Iran repeatedly violates the UN arms embargo, which has been in place for over a decade," Hook

said.

Recalling that the Houthis proposed a cessation of missile and air attacks with Saudi Arabia just days after the Iranians struck Saudi

oil installations on September 14, he said the Houthis de-escalation proposal, which the Saudis are responding to, shows that Iran clearly does not

speak for the Houthis nor have the best interests of the Yemeni people at heart.PTI