Houthi ambassador: Iranian bullying in the face of Yemeni sovereignty

Nora Bandari

On November 19, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani received Ibrahim Mohammed al-Dailami, a leader of the Houthi group, who presented his credentials as Yemen’s new ambassador to Tehran. Rouhani reiterated the Iranian regime’s support for the Houthi group.

The move came after the Houthi militia appointed Dailami as its ambassador to Iran on August 17, following a visit by its spokesman, Mohammed Abdul-Salam, to Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, during which the Houthi spokesman delivered a message from the terrorist group’s leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, recognizing the Khamenei’s authority.

Yemeni condemnation

In the same context, the Yemeni Foreign Ministry issued a statement on November 18 denouncing the Iranian regime’s official recognition of the Houthi militia through its handing over of Yemen’s diplomatic headquarters and buildings in Tehran to the group’s alleged ambassador.

The ministry also pointed out that what the Iranian regime has done is a clear violation of the UN Charter and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic and Consular Relations, as well as Security Council resolutions related to Yemen, especially Resolution 2216.

The Yemeni Foreign Ministry blamed the Iranian regime for the consequences of this blatant violation, noting that this step confirms Iran’s full support and recognition of the Houthi coup militia, as well as its responsibility for violating the protection of Yemeni premises and diplomatic property. The ministry stressed that it will take appropriate legal measures to deal with this Iranian behavior that is contrary to international law.

Violation

The move is a violation of all international norms and laws, because the legitimate government headed by Yemeni President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi severed diplomatic relations with Iran in October 2015, accusing Tehran of providing the Houthis with military assistance.

Dailami, a member of the Houthi political council and one of its most prominent faces in media, is a founding member of the Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah TV channel and the mastermind of the Houthi media campaign. He has Persian origins going back the city of Deylam in Iran, and he studied law and also studied in the Shiite hawza school system in Qom.

Strong relationship

Yemeni political analyst Mahmoud al-Taher explained that the Houthis’ move to appoint Dailami as Yemen’s ambassador to Tehran last August came two days after the Brotherhood in Marib released him after he was being held in their prisons. This came about through a deal between the Houthis and the Brotherhood.

Iran’s reception of the Houthi leader means that the militia has not and will not split away from Tehran, but will continue to defy the Arab coalition countries, Taher told the Reference. It also means that Iran has not recognized the legitimate Yemeni government but recognizes the Houthis, which will lead to a diplomatic war between Iran and the Yemeni people, which is a dangerous escalation by the mullah regime against the Yemeni government and people.

Taher called on the Yemeni government to exploit this, because international law is in its favor, and to declare an end to the Sweden Agreement and instead work to liberate the occupied territories under the control of Iranian militias. He added that the government should also call on the international parties to reject these international violations and stand against the Houthi militia, as well as to agree that a military solution is the only solution to dealing with this coup militia.