U.S President Donald Trump declared on Monday that Iran would be held directly responsible for any future attacks by Yemen’s Tehran-backed Huthi rebels, who have repeatedly targeted U.S. and foreign ships in the Red Sea.
Taking to his Truth Social platform, Trump made his stance clear: “Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon, from this point forward, as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN, and IRAN will be held responsible, and suffer the consequences.”
His remarks signaled a significant escalation in rhetoric, as the United States has been conducting strikes on Huthi targets for months, but had largely avoided directly attributing full responsibility to Iran.
Trump’s warning came in the wake of U.S. airstrikes in Yemen over the weekend, marking the first military action of his new term.
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The strikes reportedly killed 53 people and wounded 98 others on Saturday. In response, the Huthis claimed to have carried out two retaliatory strikes on a U.S. aircraft carrier and organized mass protests in areas under their control.
The U.S. has been targeting the Huthis due to their persistent attacks on Red Sea shipping vessels, which have disrupted one of the world’s most vital trade routes. The Huthis, in turn, justify their actions as acts of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel continues its military operations with U.S. support.
Reiterating his firm stance, Trump warned, “Any further attack or retaliation by the ‘Houthis’ will be met with great force.” He also accused Iran of playing “the innocent victim” while allegedly orchestrating aggression through its regional proxies.
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Prior to this weekend’s attack on a U.S. carrier group, the Huthis had not claimed any strikes in the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden since January 19, when a ceasefire in Gaza temporarily took effect. However, renewed hostilities indicate a growing risk of wider conflict in the region.
While taking a hardline approach on the Huthis and Iran, Trump has also expressed interest in reviving nuclear negotiations with Tehran. At the same time, he has reinstated his “maximum pressure” campaign, reintroducing sanctions designed to cripple Iran’s economy and deter its military ambitions.
With tensions escalating in the Middle East, Trump’s latest warning to Iran sets the stage for potential confrontations, further complicating efforts for diplomatic engagement while reinforcing his administration’s commitment to countering regional threats.
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