Iran to the Houthi: We asked Qatar and Oman to convince Washington not to designate you a terrorist organization
English - Sunday 06 December 2020 الساعة 10:00 am
Sanaa, NewsYemen, Exclusive:
Houthi militia leaders have received assurances from the Iranian ruler of Sanaa, Hassan Irloo, that Iran is making great efforts and has used its influence and regional relations to persuade the US administration not to implement its threats to classify the Houthi militia as a terrorist organization.
According to "NewsYemen" sources, the Iranian ambassador told leaders of the Houthi militia that his country asked the State of Qatar and the Sultanate of Oman to exploit their relationship with the United States of America and try to persuade President Trump's administration to postpone the classification of the Houthi militias as a terrorist organization, assuring them that the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday informed its Iranian counterpart that it had raised this issue to the White House advisor and US President Jared Kushner's son-in-law, who visited Qatar on Wednesday as part of what it described as a visit aimed at pushing for a Gulf reconciliation with Qatar.
Foreign Ministry officials in the Sultanate of Oman are also making efforts in this matter through their communication with US officials, and that the issue of the catastrophic humanitarian aspect in Yemen is being used as a justification to persuade the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US administration on this issue.
According to the sources, the Iranian ambassador made clear to the leaders of the Houthi militia that Washington's designation of them as a terrorist organization will have consequences and consequences for the ability to supply them financially and militarily by Iran and those who use them to deliver its aid, indicating to what Iran suffers from the ongoing US sanctions, which will have similar effects on the militias if the Trump administration classifies them as a terrorist organization.
Informed sources revealed to the American "Washington Post" newspaper that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo intended to declare the Houthis a "terrorist organization" within days.
The American newspaper reported that the United Nations appealed this week to the administration of outgoing President Donald Trump about the potential humanitarian disaster in Yemen, ahead of an expected decision to designate the Houthis there as a "terrorist organization", while US officials are preparing to stop a possible $ 700 million aid program.
Officials familiar with the matter told the "Washington Post" that in addition to the unveiling of new sanctions on Tehran, and after lengthy internal discussions, Pompeo is expected to announce the decision to designate the Houthis a "terrorist organization", along with other steps to impose sanctions on the militia.
The "Washington Post" newspaper indicated that, once the decision is completed, that step will expose individuals and groups that deal with the Houthis to financial penalties, and the possibility of criminal prosecution, unless they can secure exceptions from the US government.
Officials said it was unclear whether the administration would quickly issue waivers that would allow US government employees and relief groups, which they fund, to continue their work.
A US State Department spokesman refused to discuss the possible designation of the Houthis.
Earlier, Foreign Policy magazine revealed that the administration of US President Donald Trump is preparing to classify the Houthi militia in Yemen as a "terrorist organization."
Citing unnamed diplomatic sources, Foreign Policy said that the Trump administration is preparing to classify the Houthi rebels in Yemen, supported by Iran, as a terrorist organization, before leaving office next January.As the United Nations and international aid agencies try to dissuade the Trump administration from designating the Houthis as a foreign terrorist group, the imminent decision would give US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo "yet another victory in his anti-Iran strategy.”
Saudi Arabia, which leads the Arab Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, for more than five years, had classified the Houthis as a terrorist organization, and urged Washington to do the same.
