Iranian Leader Khamenei Affirms Houthi Act Independently, Reminds US Threats Can Be Responded

JAKARTA - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Yemen's Houthis acted on their own accordance. The United States often mentions that the Houthis have Iran's support.

US President Donald Trump previously stressed he would hold Iran accountable for any attacks carried out by the Houthis, as his government expanded its largest US military operations in the Middle East since he returned to the White House.

Over the years, Iran has been in partnership with groups across the region that described themselves as the "Poros of Resistance" to Israel and the influence of the US.

The groups include Hamas, Lebanese Hezbollah, and various Shia armed groups in Iraq.

Americans, said Khamenei, made a big mistake and called regional resistance centers Iran's proxy.

The Yemeni nation has its own motivations and the resistance groups in the region have their own motivations. Iran does not need proxies," Khamenei said.

"They issued threats. But we have never started a confrontation or conflict with anyone. However, if anyone acts with malicious intent and starts it, they will receive a hard slap," continued Khamenei.

Experts in Yemen, where the Houthis expanded control over the years of civil war, said the group appeared primarily motivated by domestic issues and its support bases.