Iran Tracker

Reaction to June 2009 Iranian Presidential Election:

Following the June 2009 re-election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh sent a telegram to his Iranian counterpart, in which he congratulated Ahmadinejad and reaffirmed what he described as the brotherly ties between Iran and Yemen.[1]

Nuclear:

Yemen has publicly supported Iran’s nuclear program.  In May 2009, President Ali Abdullah Saleh underlined his country’s support for Iran’s nuclear program.[2] In May 2009, Yemeni Parliamentary Speaker Yahya al-Rae’i reiterated the message of support, saying Yemen strongly defends Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology.[3]

Economic Cooperation:

From March to September 2008, Iran exported $6 million worth of goods to Yemen, while Yemen exported $3 million worth of goods to Iran during the same period.[4] In February 2009, Yemen and Iran held their 8th ministerial committee.  The co-chairs of the committee, Yemeni Minister of Trade Yahya al-Mutawakel and Iranian Minister of Energy Parvez Fattah, signed five executive cooperation agreements.[5] In May 2009, Saleh called for the further expansion of economic and commercial ties between Iran and Yemen.[6]  In June 2009, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki reiterated this statement in a meeting with Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi where the two discussed increasing their countries’ economic cooperation in all spheres.[7]

Diplomatic/Military Cooperation:

Yemen and Iran have had friendly diplomatic relations in recent years.  The two countries have held a number of high-level diplomatic exchanges and both countries have called for a further expansion of their bilateral cooperation in the future. At a meeting with Yemeni Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Muthana Hassan in May 2009, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said "the Islamic Republic of Iran is always committed to the consolidation of its friendship and deepening of its ties with Yemen, and on the same basis, it wants progress, security and prosperity for Yemen."  Muthana replied that "we feel brotherhood and friendship with the great Iranian nation and we believe that Iran wants nothing but good for us and we want nothing but good for Iran."[8]  At the same time, Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Ali Larijani also paid an official visit to Yemen after a formal invitation from Speaker of the Parliament Rae'i. At the meeting the two representatives discussed how best to increase their countries' bilateral cooperation and discussed deepening academic, media, and cultural ties.[9]

Mottaki visited Yemen in June 2009 for talks with Yemeni officials in a meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) where the two countries agreed to cooperate in anti-piracy measures.[10]  That month, Yemen agreed to permit Iranian naval vessels to dock at Yemen's port of Aden to help provide security for Iranian commercial vessels traveling through the Gulf of Aden.  Iran has reported that it will contribute six Iranian naval warships to the international efforts to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia.[11] Additionally, in June 2009, Saleh invited Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for an official visit to Yemen.[12]

According to the Yemeni military, Iranian weapons have been used by Huthi rebels battling the Yemeni government. Both Tehran and the Huthi, Zaidi Shiite rebels that have been fighting against the government of Yemen intermittently since 2004, deny that Iran has been supporting the anti-government forces. According to Minister of Information Hussan Al-Lawzi, “various media channels have revealed the financial and political support enjoyed by the Al-Huthi rebels and saboteurs…Everybody knows who finances these channels." He added that Yemen intends to "to settle accounts with Iran" for its support of the Huthi. While denying Yemen’s accusations, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Qashqavi stated that “we believe the issue is Yemen's internal issue, and we think there should be a political solution. Bloodshed cannot help solve the problems." Among the weapons discovered were machine guns and short range rockets. Other accounts also indicate that the rebels possessed advanced communications equipment.[13]  Despite Iran’s denials, a Yemeni government spokesperson in August 2009 reiterated Yemen’s accusation that Iran is providing financial support to armed rebels in Yemen’s northern Saada province.[14]  In October 2009, Yemeni coast guards also arrested 5 Iranians accused of entering the country’s territorial waters. Iran denied that an Iranian boat was seized.[15]

After Saudi Arabia launched an air raid attack against Shia rebels in the north of Yemen in November 2009, Iran harshly condemned Saudi Arabia’s actions.  Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki issued a warning that “those who pour oil on the fire must know that they will not be spared from the smoke that billows.”[16] Despite Iran’s condemnation, Mottaki denied allegations that Iran supports the Shia rebel groups in Yemen either militarily or financially.[17]

Yemeni's police and security forces have completed investigation of four Yemeni citizens who were accused of espionage for Iran. Yemeni officials found the accused with espionage tools and equipment last year during the arrest. The four Iranian citizens will be sent to court at the end of February 2010.[18]

On February 16, 2010, Iran expressed its support for the ongoing peace process in Yemen that aims to end the armed conflict between the government and Houthi fighters. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters that Iran has always sought to help settle the military conflicts in Yemen and to help resolve disagreements among Yemenis peacefully.[19]

[Click here for more information on security issues in Yemen.]