What's happening in the Red Sea is an Iranian plan unrelated to the Israeli war in Gaza: Yemeni Vice President

General Tareq Saleh, Vice President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), said that the recent peace agreements have been frozen as a result of developments in the Red Sea caused by Houthi attacks on ships.

In an interview with the Royal Institute of International Affairs "Chatham House", Saleh said that the current situation in the Red Sea is a result of the international community's stance on the liberation of Hodeidah, and the making of the Stockholm Agreement, which Yemen and the world are paying the price for today. "This agreement has turned the Bab al-Mandab Strait into a battlefield, with the Houthis carrying out missile strikes and drone attacks as part of an Iranian agenda".

Saleh confirmed that Yemen is not a party to the "Guardian of Prosperity" alliance led by US-UK, adding: "We are present on our own islands and territorial waters and we can secure and protect them".

"What is happening in the Red Sea is an Iranian plan unrelated to the Israeli aggression on Gaza, and that the quantity of missiles used in the attacks on commercial ships proves that the preparation for this scenario was done by the (IRGC), and also was prepared in advance". Saleh said.

"The main purpose of Iran's support for the Houthis is not only to destroy Yemen, but also to control the Bab al-Mandab strait (...), the (IRGC) is the one managing the operations rooms of the Houthi militia".

Regarding the situation in the Red Sea, Tareq Saleh pointed out that this crisis will not end with the end of the war in Gaza; because it is planned independently and in advance by Iran, highlighting the great danger posed by the ship Roubimar, which is on the verge of sinking and polluting the marine environment.

"The optimal solution to what is happening in the Red Sea is to support the Yemeni government to fully impose its control over Yemeni territory, especially since the international community has become aware of the clear danger of the Houthis after directly affecting its interests". He said.

Regarding peace negotiations, Saleh explained that the negotiations conducted by the Saudi Arabia with the Houthis resulted in agreements for a roadmap consisting of three stages that were presented to the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), taking into consideration the Council's suggestions in this regard.