Iran demands end to Saudi blockade as Houthis advance in Yemen

Iran's foreign ministry on Friday issued a statement urging an end to the blockade and calling for respect for Yemen's sovereignty, saying the country's problems cannot be resolved through military means or economic sanctions. According to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, Tehran also expressed readiness to support negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict.

The statement comes after Houthi forces entered Mokha, a strategically important Red Sea port, on Thursday, bringing them approximately 80 kilometres from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This narrow waterway serves as a critical alternative shipping route to the Strait of Hormuz and is vital to global maritime trade.

The Houthis' territorial gains in Yemen have raised concerns among international observers about the security of shipping lanes in the region. The developments are expected to strengthen Iran's negotiating position in any future talks with the United States, particularly as diplomatic tensions remain elevated following the resumption of hostilities over the past six months.

The advance underscores the ongoing complexity of Yemen's civil war, in which Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition supporting the government against the Houthi insurgency. International maritime authorities have warned that instability in the region could disrupt global trade flows and increase shipping costs.