Iran supports 'political process', offers to mediate between Saudi and Houthi

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Iran supports a “political process” to resolve the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels. He also reiterated Iran's offer to mediate between the two sides, though Saudi Arabia has not responded to Iran's offer. Houthis targeted Riyadh's international airport and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia last week, killing 13 people.

"We support an inclusive and comprehensive political process as the only practical and sustainable way to resolve the issue," Araghchi said in a speech at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Baghdad.

A report from US-based newspaper Wall Street Journal claimed that Iran was assisting Houthis with tactical guidance, targeting assistance, real-time intelligence briefings, and advanced training to coordinate attacks against Saudi Arabia and Yemeni government forces. According to the report, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps officers have been present on the front lines to help direct strikes on Saudi targets. On Friday, Iran denied having anything to do with the Houthi attacks, after Saudi Arabia accused Tehran of encouraging the group's escalation.

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Araghich also warned that "either we build security together, or we will endure insecurity together," adding that Tehran was willing "to cooperate with all its brothers and neighbours to achieve the first option".

Iran and Houthi relationship

The relationship between Iran and the Houthis developed through shared religious networks and anti-imperialist ideologies. They were formed in Yemen as a Zaydi Shiite revivalist study group called the "Believing Youth." Many early leaders travelled to the Shia holy city of Qom, Iran, and attended theological seminaries. They drew inspiration from the anti-Western 1979 Islamic Revolution. Between 2004 and 2010, Yemen's government, led by President Ali Abdullah Saleh, repeatedly accused Iran of financing and arming the rebels. However, the assistance had been dubbed as ideological kinship. But since the 2011 Arab Spring and the collapse of Saleh led government, the Houthis have strengthened their position with direct support from Iran's IRGC-Quds Force.