Iran Foreign Minister' spokesperson, Abbas Araqchi rejected on Tuesday allegations made by Yemen Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi that Iran is meddling within Yemen internal affairs by supporting factions and militias which share its political agenda in the region.
Foreign Minister al-Qirbi's remarks came after the authorities accsued Tehran of smuggling weapons and sophisticated military equipment into Yemen in its support of the Houthis (Shiite rebel group led by Abdel-Maleh al-Houthi. The group has been since 2012 trying to enter mainstream politics by distancing itself from its para-military past).
It is important to note that despite the Houthis' efforts to revamp their image, al-Islah, Yemen's main religious Sunni faction has accused the group of serving Iran's agenda, often comparing the group to the Hezbollah in that it is an offshoot of Tehran rather than a legitimate political faction which interest and ambitions are solely pro-Yemenis.
Al-Islah is not alone in its suspicion of the Houthis and Iran's alleged meddling. Both President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi and US Ambassador to Yemen Gerald Feierstein have their positions very cleared, having voiced their accusations publicly.
Earlier in February the Yemeni government called on the United Nations to open an investigation against Iran in a bid to assess whether Tehran was indeed running smuggling operations in Yemen.
In relation to accusations Araqshi noted "Unfortunately, the Yemeni foreign minister talks in the same manner as the previous government that was overthrown by the people of Yemen."
Araqchi insisted that Iran had no interest in spreading unrest in Yemen, but instead is a staunch supporter of its people's calls for social justice and democratic institutions.