As Yemen officials announced on Wednesday that the Jihane trial will resume in October "when the criminal court returns to session after its annual break", new evidences and theories into the events have come to light, putting a different spin onto the entire incident.
Back in January 2013, the Yemeni authorities intercepted after a tip off an allegedly Iranian-bound ship, the Jihane, off the coast of Yemen on suspicion it carried illegal cargo.
As it happened the Jihane had hidden in its hull surface to air missiles, C4 military-grade explosives, 122-millimeter shells, rocket-propelled grenades and bomb-making equipment, including electronic circuits, remote triggers and other hand-held explosives.
The eight-member crew was immediately placed under arrest and an official enquiry into the matter was launched.
Within hours of the finding of illegal weapons, Yemeni officials pointed the finger toward Iran, advancing that Tehran was looking to destabilize Yemen by providing dissident groups such as the Houthis in the North and the Southern Secessionist Movement, al-Hirak in the South, military support.
Both Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi and Yemen National Agency Chief, Ali Hassan al-Ahmadi called for a UN Security Council official probe against Iran, such was Yemen government's anger.
In answer to Yemen accusations, Ahmed Sohani an Iranian MP said back in January "Over the past few years, the U.S. has tried to create Iranophobia among regional countries by leveling accusations at Iran. The US and the West are trying to influence regional public opinion by creating a negative anti-Iranian climate through using the media under their control and justify their meddlesome presence in the region by exploiting this hazy atmosphere."
Despite Iran rejection of all allegations of wrong-doings, Sana'a has to this day retained its accusatory stance against Tehran.
The crew faces charges for "targeting Yemen's territorial integrity and wellbeing."
Following an official investigation, Aden local authorities established that the defendants knowingly falsified official travel documents in order to reach Iran where they loaded the Jihane with "extremely dangerous explosives, ammunition, and other tools and equipment and placed them in carefully-concealed places on board of ship".
All accused have already admitted to have received military training in Iran.
Two months into the proceedings (the trial opened in April), officials have said to be satisfied with the judiciary. Saeed Abdul Momen, a researcher on regional strategic affairs said he was happy with the way the judiciary had handled such a matter of national sovereignty.
"The attempt to smuggle this quantity of arms put Yemen's security at risk, especially if they had reached the armed groups trying to undermine Yemen's stability and the safety of its citizens by implementing foreign agendas," Momen told the press, adding "If a link is established between a foreign state and illegal arms shipments, Yemen will have the right to demand accountability via regional and international forums."
While Yemeni officials are adamant the Jihane was heading for its shores, a confidential UN report alleges the Iranian ship laden with arms may have also been bound for Somalia.
The confidential U.N. report, by the U.N. Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea, cited Yemeni officials as saying that it was possible diesel carried aboard the ship could have been intended for shipment to Somalia.
And though such the report only implied that the ship could have instead been traveling to Somalia instead of Yemen, the very implications of such a theory are rather disturbing as it implies a link in between Iran and Somalia al-Shabbab.
Alireza Miryousefi, a spokesman for Iran's U.N. mission, rejected the suggestion that Iran could be connected in any way with arms supplies to al-Shabaab, stressing, "These are some baseless allegations and ridiculous fabrications about the Islamic Republic of Iran ... This alleged report by the Monitoring Group on Somalia on arms shipments from Iran carries no basis or the minimum rationality."
"Yemeni officials indicated that this arms consignment was to be delivered to the Houthi rebellion in north Yemen," the report to the Security Council's sanctions committee read. "However the Monitoring Group investigated if some of the Jihan 1 cargo could have been intended for delivery in Somalia."
"When asked about this, security officials confirmed that the diesel could have been bound for Somalia," the report said. "Members of the crew have also divulged to a diplomatic source who interviewed them in Aden that the diesel was bound for Somalia."