Yemen tells UN to take tougher stance on Iran, Houthi funding

DUBAI: Yemen’s internationally recognized government called on the UN Security Council on Tuesday to take a firmer stance against Iranian support for the Houthis and expand sanctions against individuals and entities accused of undermining the country’s political process.
Addressing the council, Yemen’s UN ambassador Abdullah Al-Saadi urged the international community to cut off sources of funding and weapons for the Houthis, describing the group as a growing threat to regional and international security.
The government said recent developments had shown the Yemen conflict was no longer solely an internal dispute, accusing the Houthis of acting as a military arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and using Yemeni territory to threaten neighboring countries and international shipping routes. 
Yemen also called on the Security Council to update its sanctions list to include individuals and entities found to be obstructing the political process or undermining state institutions.
It said measures had already been taken against several figures accused of rebellion, corruption and serious rights abuses, including Aidarus Al-Zubaidi, whom it said was accused of high treason.
The government reiterated its support for UN-led peace efforts but argued that lasting stability required the restoration of state authority and the disarmament of armed groups operating outside government control.