DUBAI: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned Saudi Arabia that it will struggle to contain Yemen’s Houthi movement, as attacks linked to the group add a new layer of uncertainty to an already volatile Middle East.
IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebi said Saudi Arabia would not be able to prevent further Houthi attacks if it continued military operations against Yemen’s Iran-aligned movement.
“Saudi Arabia will certainly be unable to contain Yemen and Ansarullah or remain safe from their attacks,” Mohebi was quoted as saying by Defa Press.
He argued that recent developments had demonstrated the risks of escalating military action, saying that the more Saudi Arabia attacked, the more it would face attacks in return.
The warning comes as the broader confrontation involving Iran, the United States and Israel continues to send shockwaves across the region. Yemen, which has remained at the centre of a long-running conflict, is once again becoming a major flashpoint amid growing tensions involving Gulf states and regional armed groups.
The Houthis have already resumed attacks against Saudi targets after a years-long period of relative calm. In July, the group fired missiles towards Saudi Arabia after accusing Riyadh of military action against Houthi-controlled areas. Saudi authorities said the missiles were intercepted.
The escalation has since extended beyond missile launches. The Houthis have claimed attacks against Saudi energy infrastructure and announced a maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia, raising concerns about the possible impact on shipping and global energy markets.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, has warned of the possibility of coordinated attacks from both northern and southern directions, including threats from Iraqi militias and the Houthis. A senior Saudi official said intelligence indicated that energy facilities, ports and airports could be among potential targets.
Tehran steps up economic rhetoric
Alongside the warnings over Yemen, Iranian officials have intensified their criticism of US economic pressure.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused US President Donald Trump of using threats against countries supporting Iran as a diversion from Washington’s own economic problems, including rising debt and interest costs.
Araghchi described the US approach as “economic terrorism” and argued that continued pressure would harm the global economy and undermine the sovereignty of other countries.
Trump has warned that countries providing Iran with what he described as “any type of lifeline” could face severe economic consequences. His warning extends to financial institutions, businesses, airports and government entities that assist Tehran.
The threat comes as Washington seeks to increase pressure on Iran amid a conflict that has disrupted energy markets and commercial shipping routes.
Trump has repeatedly suggested that economic pressure could force Tehran to change course. Iranian officials, however, have rejected the idea that sanctions or military pressure will force the country to surrender.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the United States was heading towards another failure and argued that military pressure had not achieved its intended objectives.
“The military war didn’t yield results, so now they’ve named the next failure ‘economic war’,” he said in a statement posted on social media.
