The United States has accused Russia of holding discussions with the Houthis in Yemen to supply them with weapons, while the Iran-backed rebels continue to launch attacks targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea and take the vital waterway hostage.

In an interview with Agence France-Presse on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the US special envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking, said that Moscow is “concluding its own deals” with the Houthis to allow its ships to pass unharmed.

Lenderking added on Wednesday, “We have confirmation that the Russians and the Houthis are exploring ways to cooperate,” including the transfer of weapons.

He continued, “We do not know whether the transfer of weapons is taking place as we speak, but the matter has reached a point that requires all of us to sound the alarm to ensure that this does not happen.”

Lenderking indicated that if arms transfers were to take place, “it would likely change the conflict significantly,” warning of an “escalation” that would derail the currently stalled efforts to end the decade-long conflict in Yemen.

He warned that “the idea of ​​the Russians supplying the Houthis with lethal weapons greatly concerns the countries of the region.”

Russia is working to strengthen its military relations with Iran and North Korea, both of which are subject to severe sanctions, as part of its effort to strengthen its military arsenal against Ukraine.

Relations between Russia and the United States have deteriorated sharply since the invasion of Ukraine, with Washington leading Western countries to impose sanctions on Moscow and arm Kiev.

But Russia has friendly relations with Saudi Arabia, which previously launched a military campaign against the Houthis, and any step to support the rebels raises its concerns.

– “Pressures and incentives” 

Since November, the Houthis have been launching drones and missiles at ships crossing the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. They say they are only targeting ships linked to Israel, the United States and Britain in solidarity with the Palestinians who are suffering in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.< /p>

The Houthi attacks resulted in the killing of at least four sailors, the sinking of two ships, and the hijacking of one ship, the “Galaxy Leader,” which has been detained since November with its crew of 25 people.

On the other hand, the United States and Britain have launched strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen since January. 

But their efforts to slow the attacks that disrupted maritime navigation in a waterway that accounts for 12% of global trade traffic failed. 

The American envoy pointed to intensive diplomatic efforts on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings to limit attacks in the Red Sea

Lenderking said that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken discussed the Yemen crisis with the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries in New York on Wednesday.

He indicated that he and his team held “meetings with the Saudis, Emiratis, Omanis, and the Yemeni government this week.”

He continued, “I think we are all looking for the right set of pressures and incentives to encourage the Houthis to withdraw from the Red Sea.” 

He stressed that the diplomatic solution is the best.

When asked about Iran’s role in the discussions between Russia and the Houthis, the American envoy replied, “Iran is always looking for ways to protect and promote the interests of the Houthis.”