Iran expects to facilitate cessation of attacks on ships in Red Sea - Cameron
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron (photo: Getty Images)
British Foreign Secretary James Cameron has sent a clear signal to the Iranian government that Houthi attacks in the Red Sea must cease, according to the ВВС.
The head of the British Foreign Office met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on Wednesday, January 17, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.
During the meeting, Cameron condemned the illegal and unacceptable missile attacks by the Houthis on ships using the vital trade route of the Red Sea. He also urged Iran to use its influence to prevent further threats.
Speaking at a meeting of business and political leaders in Davos, the British Secretary stated that freedom of navigation is a crucial freedom for global trade.
"Iran is responsible for a lot of instability in the region through supporting Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen. The UK has a difficult relationship with Iran, but the job of foreign secretary is to meet and deliver some very clear messages that is what I did," said the head of the British Foreign Office.
Amir Abdollahian, on social media, reported that during the meeting, he told Cameron that America and England must immediately stop supporting the military crimes of the Zionist apartheid regime against the Palestinians. In doing so, he hinted at the West's support for Israel's military operation in Gaza in response to a terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
Yemeni Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea
Since November 2023, Yemeni Houthi rebels have initiated regular attacks on trade vessels in the Red Sea using drones, as well as ballistic and cruise missiles. The initial attacks coincided with the beginning of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Due to the ongoing assaults on commercial ships, on January 12, the United States and Britain launched missile strikes on Houthi military targets in Yemen. However, the militant group continued to target vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
On January 17, the United States designated the Houthis as a global terrorist organization, and the following day, conducted additional strikes on the group's facilities in Yemen.
President Joe Biden announced the intention to continue strikes on Houthi targets if further attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea occur.
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that attacks by radical Islamic groups in the Middle East, with Tehran's support, will not cease until the Israeli-Hamas war comes to an end.
