Al-Alimi: Betting on Iran's moderation will lead to more chaos in the region

In a statement reflecting the depth of the Yemeni crisis and its regional entanglements, His Excellency Dr. Rashad Muhammad al-Alimi, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen, issued a strong warning to the international community, emphasizing that betting on the moderation of the Iranian regime is a losing proposition that will only lead to further chaos and destruction in Yemen and the entire region. This stance comes amidst stalled diplomatic efforts to end the war and highlights Tehran's role as a key destabilizing factor.

the historical background and context of the conflict
. The Yemeni conflict erupted in full force in 2014 when the Iranian-backed Houthi militia seized control of the capital, Sana'a, and state institutions by force. This coup prompted a Saudi-led military intervention in March 2015 to support the internationally recognized legitimate government. Since then, Yemen has become the scene of one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with the conflict widely viewed as a proxy war between regional powers, particularly Saudi Arabia and Iran. The Yemeni government, along with numerous regional and international actors, accuses Iran of providing extensive military, logistical, and financial support to the Houthis, including supplying them with ballistic missiles and drones used to attack civilian and economic targets both within Yemen and in neighboring countries.

The significance of Al-Alimi's warning and its anticipated impact
lie in its direct call to the international community to reassess its policies toward Iran. While some international powers seek to revive the nuclear agreement or open channels of dialogue with Tehran in the hope of "moderting" its behavior, Al-Alimi believes this approach ignores the tangible evidence on the ground. Iran's continued support for armed militias in the region, not only in Yemen but also in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq, represents a consistent strategy of the Iranian regime to expand its influence and undermine the stability of Arab states.

Local, regional and international impact

• Locally: Continued Iranian support for the Houthis means prolonging the war, deepening the humanitarian catastrophe, and undermining any real chance of reaching a comprehensive and fair political settlement that meets the aspirations of the Yemeni people to restore their state and security.
• Regionally, Iranian behavior poses a direct threat to the security of international navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital artery for global trade. Furthermore, Houthi cross-border attacks threaten the security and stability of neighboring countries, most notably Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
• Internationally: This behavior challenges the credibility of international resolutions, such as those banning arms supplies to the Houthis, and makes it difficult to build a stable security system in the Middle East, affecting global energy markets and international security in general.

In conclusion, President Al-Alimi’s position represents a realistic cry demanding that the world deal with the root causes of the problem, stressing that sustainable peace in Yemen will only be achieved through a firm and unified international stance that puts pressure on Iran to stop its destabilizing interventions and supports the legitimate government to impose its control over all Yemeni territory.