Iranian Security Council receives Houthi spokesperson in Tehran Surprise on New Year’s Eve: Danish Queen Margrethe II resigns

Iran’s Security Council has welcomed the spokesman of Yemen’s Houthi rebels amid tensions in the Red Sea. The meeting on Sunday brought together the chairman of the council, Admiral Ali Akbar Ahmadian, and Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdel Salam, Iran’s state agency Irna reported on Telegram on Monday. The discussions were therefore about “common interests and regional security issues”. According to the web portal “Iran Nuances”, the meeting took place in the capital Tehran.

As Secretary General, Ahmadian represents the interests of Iranian religious leader and head of state Ali Khamenei in the Security Council, which has the final say on all strategic matters. The Council can also make decisions without Parliament’s approval, which are final after Khamenei’s approval.

Meanwhile, Iran says it has sent a warship to the Red Sea. The frigate ‘Albors’ passed through the Strait of Bab al-Mandab, as the online portal ‘Nur News’ reported on Monday.

Since the start of the war in Gaza, ships in the Red Sea have been increasingly attacked by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. The US accuses the Islamic Republic of being involved in planning the attacks. Tehran rejects the accusations. (sda/dpa)