UK: DOUBTLESS IRAN HAS ROLE IN YEMEN CONFLICT

LONDON, Nov. 25 (Saba) - Britain has said that the Islamic Republic
of Iran plays a role in Yemen's year-long conflict, saying Iran is
not only a threat to the region because of its nuclear program but
also because of supporting terrorists and rebels.

The UK's Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East, Ivan Lewis,
said to the Alarabiya Satellite Channel that the situation has
become very complicated in Yemen.

Yemen is experiencing a war on behalf of other parties, he said,
adding that the Iranian role in the clashes between the army and the
rebels in the far north is clear.

So far we can't hint at a direct Iranian part in the conflict, but
doubtless Iran is feeding the insurgency in Saada and encouraging
the Houthi rebels and what Iran does is unacceptable, the UK
official said.

The statements coincided with a meeting that gathered Lewis and
Yemeni lawmakers and envoy to Britain on the British strategy for
assisting Yemen.

On the other side, Lewis reiterated his country's firm stance toward
the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia whose army was
brought into the Yemeni conflict after the rebels took a Saudi
border region.

In this regard and as the war is continuing on its border with
Yemen, Saudi Arabia denied earlier that it had exceeded its border.

The denial came as a response to previous reports that Saudi troops
have deeply got in the Yemeni territory hunting the Houthi
infiltrators who have killed some Saudi troops in retaliation for
facilities Saudis provided for the Yemeni army during this year's
confrontations that started in August.

Yemen has many times accused unofficial Iranian religious
authorities of supporting the insurgents, urging the Iranian
government to block such aid.

Iran instead of just announcing its support for Yemen's unity and
security, she must prove its cooperation and solidarity through
concrete steps over the aid going to the rebels, Yemen says.

FR