Cipher Brief Experts on Haley’s Iran Accusations

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley yesterday displayed an array of singed missile remnants and other parts that she said constituted “concrete” evidence that Iran had illegally supplied weapons to Houthi rebels in Yemen in direct violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2231. In addition to codifying the Iran nuclear agreement, the resolution also prohibits Iran from engaging in such weapons transfers. Haley’s comments might indicate a willingness by the Trump administration to take further action in response.  

Some of the parts belonged to a short-range ballistic missile fired by the Houthis toward an airport outside of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November, Haley said, confirming recent comments from U.S. Defense Department officials that the missile appeared to be Iranian-made. Haley spoke in a hangar at the U.S. military’s Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, as she pointed to parts that also included an antitank guided missile, a small kamikaze drone and an explosive-laden boat. Haley said Iran provided all of the equipment to the Houthis.