High ranking Yemeni officials have warned this week that Yemen Red Sea islands, lying directly west off the coast of Hodeidah and beyond had been turned into arm trafficking hubs under the sponsorship of Iran.
Officials who already accused Iran on many instances of meddling within Yemeni affairs in the pursuit of its own political gain in the region has theorized that Tehran through the Houthis (a Shia rebel group which is now seeking to join mainstream politics) is arming against its regional nemesis, Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis which originally had control over the northern province of Sa'ada where the group is based, expanded over the past two years its zone of control over the province of al-Jawf, Hajja and some parts of Amran, directly fitting allegations of regional expansion.
In an interview with Middle East in London a Yemeni official who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, emphasized that Yemen Red Sea islands had been turned into weapon warehouses by Iran in favor of the Houthis.
"Many of the islands are not populated, which makes it easier for smugglers ... Weapons then enter Yemen on board of small fishing ships," explained the official.
Iran would be smuggling weapons into Yemen for two reasons: one political, as to spread instability and thus expand its hold over factions and politicians and two, for pure financial gains.
The official suggested that neighboring countries partner against such illegal activities, especially since it too concerned them as some weapons were finding their way onto other countries in the region.
Despite an increasing amount of damning accusations, Iran has always maintained that it sought not to meddle or interfere in Yemen but only support the will of the people in their quest for a better democratic state.