Iran brokers secret Russia-Houthi missile talks - Reuters
Iran has facilitated secret negotiations between Russia and Yemen's Houthis in order for Moscow to provide the militia with advanced anti-ship missiles amid the Red Sea blockade.
Iran has facilitated secret negotiations between Russia and Yemen's Houthis in order for Moscow to provide the militia with advanced anti-ship missiles amid the Red Sea blockade.
Three sources confirmed to Reuters that discussions are ongoing, although Russia has not yet committed to providing the Yakhont supersonic missiles, also known as P-800 Oniks.
Such weapons would enhance the Houthis' ability to strike commercial vessels in the Red Sea with greater accuracy amid the blockade which began in November, posing a heightened threat to US and European warships defending the area.
Amid the ongoing war in Gaza, the Houthis, claiming solidarity with Iran-backed Hamas, have enforced a maritime blockade of the Red Sea, targeting commercial shipping, on the orders of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
Initially focused on the Red Sea, these attacks have now extended to other key waterways, including the Indian Ocean, disrupting international shipping and resulting in dozens of international seamen unrelated to Israel being taken hostage.
A US-led coalition of over 20 nations has mobilized to address the threat to global trade and the freedom of movement in the vital maritime corridors.
"Russia is negotiating with the Houthis for the transfer of Yakhont supersonic anti-ship missiles," a Western intelligence source told Reuters. "The Iranians are brokering the talks but do not want to have their signature over it."
In July, The Wall Street Journal reported that Russia was considering sending the missiles. In August, CNN reported that Russia had prepared to deliver missiles and other military equipment to the Houthis but pulled back last minute amid behind-the-scenes efforts by the United States and Saudi Arabia to halt the transfer.
Two regional officials said that the Houthis and Russians met in Tehran at least twice this year and that talks to supply dozens of missiles, which have a range of about 300 km (186 miles), were ongoing, with further meetings expected in the coming weeks.
For years, Iran has been accused of supplying the Houthis with funding, weapons and technical expertise, enabling the group to develop long-range missiles and drones. These shipments, often disguised as commercial cargo, have sometimes been intercepted by US naval forces and other international military operations.
In early September, the Houthis reached central Israel with a missile for the first time, which they claimed was hypersonic. The missile landed in an open area near Ben Gurion International Airport, causing no casualties and minimal damage.
Following the incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Israel would exact a "heavy price" on the Houthis, who control northern Yemen. In a press conference, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian denied that Tehran had supplied hypersonic missiles to the Houthis or short-range ballistic missiles to Russia.
The drills are being held at a base 110 km (68 miles) south of the capital Tehran and come at a time of heightened tension across the region, the source added, particularly in Lebanon where Israeli air strikes have killed nearly 600 people in a single day.
Due to the sensitivity of the matter, the source spoke to Iran International on condition of anonymity.
The Shaheed Shabani facility has regularly hosted training sessions for Iran’s allied armed groups in the region, including Houthis, Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Over the past decade, this base has become a hub for training aimed at strengthening what Iran calls the Axis of Resistance, a transnational network of armed Islamists dedicated to confronting Israel and the United States.
This latest drill appears to be part of a broader effort by Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) to prepare its regional allies for potential future operations.
It is focused on “ground assaults, building seizures, and hostage-taking tactics ... (and) guerrilla warfare techniques, bomb-making, and advanced weapons use,” according to the source speaking to Iran International on condition of anonymity.
Multiple such exercises have been held over the past year inside Iran, the source said. Those participating in the trainings arrive from Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria.
Some stay longer than others, getting additional, specialized instructions on the assembly and operation of advanced weaponry, the source added
Earlier this year, the Daily Telegraph reported that Yemen's Houthis were trained at Khamenei Academy of Naval Sciences and Technology in Ziba Kenar on the Caspian coastline north of Iran.
Another site was on Farur Island, a small, uninhabited island in the Persian Gulf controlled by the IRGC's naval forces, the Telegraph report alleged.
Iran’s continued investment in training its regional allies has raised alarm among neighboring countries and Western powers who view these forces as central to Tehran’s strategy of extending its influence in the Middle East.
The Islamic Republic says its actions are part of a defensive strategy to counter threats from Israel and the West.
"Now that Pezeshkian has come into office with the slogan of de-escalation, some are trying to drag him into sanctions and tensions," Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, a former head of the National Security Committee of the parliament and a foreign policy analyst, told private Iranian news agency Fararu.
"His duty is to the nation, or at least to the part of the nation that trusted and voted for him expecting change, especially in foreign policy."
Some factions oppose Pezeshkian's push to reduce tensions with Western countries to ease sanctions, while supporters hold on to the hope that he will follow through on his promises.
Falahatpisheh emphasized that past diplomatic approaches have failed to yield results and Pezeshkian must pursue a path more committed to genuine change.
No more talk
"The era of speech-centered diplomacy has passed ... Most past presidents have taken trips that haven’t been fruitful," Falahatpisheh said.
"If this trip is no different, it will turn into a costly and ineffective one for the country. Those who have imposed costly foreign policies must be held accountable. The Iranian people have the right to question those who imposed high-tension policies."
Sanctions imposed on Iran, primarily by the United States and its allies, have harmed the country’s economy and the everyday lives of its citizens. These sanctions, especially those targeting Iran's banking, oil, and trade sectors, have led to inflation, reduced purchasing power, and a scarcity of essential goods.
The national currency, the rial, has devalued, making imports more expensive and driving up the prices of food, medicine, and other essentials. While the government attempts to provide basic commodities at subsidized rates, many still struggle with rising costs.
Medicines, particularly those for chronic and rare diseases, are often difficult to obtain despite exemptions on humanitarian goods due to logistical barriers and banking restrictions.
Calls for de-escalation and accountability
Falahatpisheh pointed out that many of those who initially opposed the FATF and JCPOA six years ago now support reviving these agreements, recognizing the need to address the costs of sanctions and tensions.
"If Pezeshkian wants to act differently from the past, he should initiate a serious de-escalation strategy, and this must begin and take shape in New York. We expect him to pursue maximum de-escalation with the world."
Sanctions have also affected employment, with reduced foreign investments and trade opportunities leading to job losses in various sectors. Youth unemployment remains high, while businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, face difficulties in securing the materials and funds needed to operate.
These economic pressures have led to widespread discontent, with many Iranians calling for solutions to ease their daily hardships.
In recent years, the strain has pushed people to the streets in protest, demanding economic relief and political reforms.
"The experience of the past 11 months has shown that since Iran and the US delayed making their indirect negotiations in Oman serious, both sides have entered a highly challenging field designed by Benjamin Netanyahu," Falahatpisheh added, referring to Iranian nuclear talks.
"Despite the enmity between Iran and the US, neither wants tensions in the region. Unfortunately, the Oman negotiation table has been removed, and both sides are now stuck."
