Speaking to Asharq al-Awsat, a prominent pan-Arab newspaper, Yemen Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Mohammed al-Saadi slammed Iran for its meddling within Yemen's internal affairs, referring to allegations Tehran is supporting dissidents throughout the impoverished nation both financially and militarily as to promote its own regional hegemonic agenda.
"The Iranian regime does not give any support to Yemen except to send arms and money for specific groups to cause problems in the political process and destroy the security condition of the country," said Minister al-Saadi.
This new attack against Tehran comes amid reports from Yemen security services Iran has been sending into the country hundreds of its Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) troops via Lebanon. The men would be crossing into Yemen by pretending to be Syrian refugees.
Also called the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, the IRGC is a branch of Iran's military, founded after the Iranian revolution.
“They formed secret cells and were assigned to carry out devastating operations in Yemen’s south and north,” revealed sources within Yemen.
Despite Tehran insistence it is not in any way, shape or form supporting al-Harak (Southern Secessionist Movement) or the Houthis (Shia rebel group based in the northern province of Sa'ada led by Sheikh Abdel-Malek al-Houthi), President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi and foreign dignitaries among whom US Ambassador Gerald Feierstein are bidding different.
A weapon shipment intercepted by the Yemeni authorities in January 2013 prompted fears Iran is escalating its interference in the Peninsula, posing a threat to the region stability.