Washington presents new evidence: Iran is destabilizing the region

Washington presents new evidence: Iran is destabilizing the region

"Provided Shiite militias in Iraq with ballistic missiles" ...

29/11/2018 - 21:46 Middle east



WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington offered new evidence on Thursday that it was demonstrating Iran's involvement in destabilizing security and stability in the region by supplying Shi'ite militias with weapons and missiles in several countries in the region.

Iran's special envoy to Iran, Brian Hawk, launched a sharp attack on Tehran at a news conference on Thursday, in which he presented a structure to one of the missiles he said Iran had supplied with its "subversive arms" in the region.

Hawk described the Iranian regime as "outlawed," "playing a malicious role in the region," and urged Tehran to abandon its role as "the biggest supporter of terrorism in the region."

The official pointed to Tehran's support for a number of "terrorist groups", including the Houthi militias in Yemen, the Taliban, the Shiite militias in Iraq, Syria and the Lebanese Hezbollah, with thousands of rockets.

As for Iraq, Hawk said: "Reliable reports indicate that Iran is sending ballistic missiles to Shiite militias, while in September these militias committed acts of violence against US diplomatic headquarters in Baghdad and Basra."

"In late 2006, Iran supplied Hezbollah with thousands of weapons and missiles that accurately hit its targets, so the party now has more than 100,000 rockets."

Hawk pointed to the Yemeni file, saying that «Tehran provided Huthi militias with anti-aircraft missiles», and blamed Iran for the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and prolong the war.

He explained that Iran "stands behind the rockets launched by the Houthis to target Saudi Arabia during the past few years."

He also stressed that the United States will continue to support the efforts of the international envoy to Yemen Martin Griffith, stressing the need to work to prevent Iran from strengthening its presence in Yemen.

The envoy added that Iran threatens international shipping in the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb and Hormuz, stressing the need to increase pressure on the Iranian regime, and considered that «Iranian weapons deployed in the region pose a threat to US forces».

Hawk spoke of a "new deal" with Iran that deals with all its "subversive activities" in the region, he said, but stressed that "US sanctions against Tehran will continue to change its behavior."

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