Saudi Arabia Accuses Iran of Encouraging Houthis Amid War Escalation

Saudi Arabia on Thursday accused Iran of encouraging the Houthis as the kingdom’s war with the group has recently escalated, with a Foreign Ministry official alleging that Tehran continues to provide the fighters with weapons, training and other support. Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy Dr. Rayed Krimly made the accusation during a virtual press conference, saying Iran’s assistance violates United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Saudi official’s allegations

Krimly said Iran has continuously provided weapons and training to the Houthis. He also described Tehran as giving the group ongoing support, presenting that assistance as a violation of Security Council resolutions. His comments placed Iran’s alleged role at the centre of Saudi Arabia’s account of the conflict’s latest escalation.

The remarks were made on behalf of Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry. They are accusations by a Saudi official, rather than an independently established finding in the information provided. Krimly did not, in the available account, identify particular weapons, training programmes or incidents connected to the alleged support.

The statement also did not specify which Security Council resolutions Saudi Arabia says Iran has breached. Krimly’s central claim was that the continued provision of weapons, training and support to Houthi fighters is inconsistent with those resolutions.

Accusation comes amid renewed escalation

Saudi Arabia’s statement linked the allegations to the recent escalation in its war with the Houthis. The official’s comments focused on Iran’s alleged encouragement and assistance to the group, rather than providing further details about developments on the battlefield or the circumstances behind the latest escalation.

The accusation underscores the competing dimensions highlighted by Riyadh: its conflict with the Houthis and its claim that Iran is sustaining the group through material and training support. Krimly’s remarks framed that alleged backing as both a security concern for Saudi Arabia and a matter of compliance with UN Security Council resolutions.

No response from Iran or the Houthis was included in the available account of the press conference. It also did not provide additional details about any Saudi diplomatic steps or other actions following the accusation. The statement therefore sets out Riyadh’s position, while leaving those questions unanswered.

For now, the Saudi official’s public message was that Iran continues to arm, train and support Houthi fighters, and that such assistance violates international resolutions. The claims were made as Saudi Arabia described its war with the group as undergoing a recent escalation.