TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian UN mission vehemently rejected the US Navy’s claims that Iran was trying to smuggle 70 tons of a missile fuel component hidden among bags of fertilizer aboard a ship bound for Yemen.
Iran has roundly dismissed the US Navy’s allegations that the country was trying to smuggle 70 tons of a missile fuel component aboard a ship bound for Yemen.
The U.S. Navy announced on Tuesday that it has seized 70 tons of a missile fuel component and 100 tons of an explosive precursor. The items were being smuggled on a ship traveling from Iran to Yemen. This incident demonstrates that Iran continues to quite literally fuel the conflict in Yemen and the associated humanitarian crisis there. It underscores the need to ensure the U.S. and partner forces in the region have the capability necessary to interdict Iranian weapons smuggling.
It’s not always clear where the drones might be flown from, either Yemen or Iran, and after they are detected it's hard to shoot them down or jam them and push them off course.
US Naval Forces seized a large amount of explosive materials from a fishing boat heading to Yemen from Iran last week. According to the US navy s 5th Fleet, the vessel was intercepted by the US Coast.