Click to see full-size image. Source: the UK Ministry of Defence.
On February 13, the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence said that it had presented the United Nations with evidence linking Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to the smuggling of weapons to Yemen.
The evidence consisted of weapons which were seized by HMS Montrose of the Royal Navy from boats operated by smugglers in international waters south of Iran in early 2022. The weapons included Iranian 358 surface-to-air-missiles and engines for Project 351 land attack cruise missiles.
The UK MoD said that the supply of these weapons to Yemen violates UN Security Council Resolutions 2231 and 2140, which were approved in 2015.
According to the ministry’s statement, a key piece of evidence was a commercial quadcopter drone that was designed for reconnaissance activities.
Click to see full-size image. Source: the UK Ministry of Defence.
While decrypting the internal memory of the drone, a DJI Matrice 300 RTK, British specialists found records of 22 test flights conducted at the IRGC Aerospace Force Headquarters and test facility in western Tehran.
“This evidence indicated a direct link between the Iranian state and the smuggling of missile systems being used by the Houthis to attack the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates,” the statement reads.
Commenting on the evidence, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said that the UK is “committed to upholding international law and will continue to counter Iranian activity that contravenes United Nation Security Council Resolutions and threatens peace across the world.”
“That is why we have a permanent Royal Navy deployment in the Gulf region, conducting vital maritime security operations and working in support of an enduring peace in Yemen,”
From his side, Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon accused Iran of arming the Houthis (Ansar Allah) in violation of UN Security Council resolutions on Yemen. Saudi Arabia, a close ally of the UK, has been waging a war against the group for more than seven years.
“Iran’s sustained military support to the Houthis and continued violation of the arms embargo has stoked further conflict and undermined UN-led peace efforts,” Ahmad said. “The UK will continue to act to protect the security of our partners and hold Iran to account.”
The Royal Navy has a permanent deployment of a Type 23 Frigate, equipped with a Royal Marine boarding party and a Wildcat helicopter to support what it calls “maritime security operations” in the Gulf of Oman.
This was not the first time the IRGC was accused of providing military support to the Houthis. Iran is yet to comment on the evidence presented by the UK.
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Interesting timing (Raisi’s visit to China to implement the 25-years strategic deal) and a very credible source, the same Ben Wallace who says %97 of Russian armed forces are engaged in the Ukraine, In addition, observation quadcopters are truly lethal weapons and our specialists are such idiots who leave their passports inside them, or a memory card full of weapon’s goodbye-party pics with geotags and full address…
You know what? Go ahead, deliver your evidence to the UNSC and prove that Iran indeed violated the 2231 UNSCR. Then designate the country’s armed forces as a terror group and the next step would be to activate the snap-back mechanism, wouldn’t it? We shall see what happens afterwards if they actually go ahead and do that. Many things might happen, but pressuring Iran into giving more concessions won’t be one of them.
Islam already destroyed 200$ million dollars worth Drone patrolling near Iran
When the collective west sends weapons to Ukraine everyone is clapping hands. When Iran sends weapons its illegal? And yeah what happened during Afghan wars with Russia? Who send weapons in masses to the Talibans? SICK WORLD!
Its fine with me.
It was decided Ukraine should be only able to defend themself. So when they are attcked we of course help them.
Rustica is invading a bufferstate, so we help the buffer made for those conditions to make Rustica safe and happy.
No more walls west of DDR. NO MORE. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
And Iran: We see the results in Iraq, Syria and in theirown coutry as well as several other places. We see the many executed there, We see the many iranians as refugees here too.
We see no peace in Yemen. They have been fighting there since long time before I was born. Even Gabdel Nasser was there, Britts was no nice persons there – whatever. Ancient Emirs. Minority rules by houtis or shiits. 2 countries didnt do it as well.
If the Iranians should do something, it would be reforming the anciant parts of their waterwasting farming. That would give a lot of jobs for the many uinployed Youngsters and cheep good food for them. Less rain there seemes ignored. Very much already is too dry.
Thats not news but confirmation.
UK used to support Iran and the Zaydis decades ago.
Iranian drone,shock horror,so what Uncle Sam?
Cry me a river UK. Global leader in hypocrisy.
Shock horror,Iranian Drones,so what Uncle Sam?
Same story with stratostats (balloons). The US has launched 10 stratostats over China last year according the foreign ministry of China, but this is normal, nothing to worry about, no breaking of international law at all, but if China did the same even at 1/10, this is awful and unacceptable terror!
No Chinese balloons. US Weather Service thinks that was their balloon that got shot down.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-09/chinese-balloon-had-parts-with-english-writing-lawmakers-told
Isn’t it illegal for Britain to arm the Saudi invasion of Yemen?
Lying POS. US PUPPET
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said that the UK is “committed to upholding international law
this drone can carry nearly nothing who u want to fool
Absolutely nothing that comes forth from the MOD of Blighty can be trusted. In any case so what if Iranian drones were found. Blighty arms companies sell their wares all over the world. So what is good for the goose, is good for the gander. The game is up in Yemen so suck it up MOD. Get ready for another failure.