TEHERAN - Iran on Monday rejected accusations by US and Israeli officials of its involvement in attacks on Israel by the Houthis in Yemen.
In a statement released early Monday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry described the repetition of such "baseless" claims as an "affront to the powerful but oppressed" Yemeni nation.
The statement highlighted Iran's position on the necessity to respect countries' territorial integrity and national sovereignty, and condemned the U.S. military attacks on Yemen as a "flagrant violation" of the UN Charter and international law.
The statement was released after the Houthi group announced a comprehensive air blockade on Israel "in response to its decision to expand its aggression against Gaza."
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Earlier in the day, the group claimed responsibility for a missile attack that hit a driveway leading to the main terminal of Ben Gurion Airport, Israel's main international airport.
The Houthis have intensified missile and drone attacks on Israel in recent weeks amid renewed US airstrikes on their posts in Yemen.
On Sunday, Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh warned that Iran would strike US and Israeli interests, bases, and troops "wherever and whenever deemed necessary" if either country initiates a war against the Islamic Republic.
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He made the remarks in an interview with Iran's IRIB news agency, responding to a recent threat made by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who warned that Iran would "pay the consequence" for its "support to the Houthis."
The defense minister stated that Iran maintains a large arsenal of missiles in its bases and would not hesitate to use them against regional targets if war is imposed on the country.
"Should such a war be from the United States or Israel, the Islamic Republic of Iran will target their interests, bases, and troops wherever they are and whenever it deems necessary," Nasirzadeh said.
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He further criticized what he described as a contradiction in US behavior -- claiming to be open to negotiations while simultaneously threatening Iran through various channels.
Nasirzadeh said Yemen is an independent country and makes its own decisions, advising the United States to refrain from creating crises in the West Asia region. The Houthis have been targeting Israel since November 2023 in what they describe as an act of solidarity with Palestinians amid the conflict in Gaza.
