Al-Eryani to Asharq Al-Awsat: Houthi Plan to Create Entity for Collecting Levies From Commercial Ships in the Red Sea

Yemen's Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani has exposed an alleged plan by the Houthi group, in collaboration with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), to establish an administrative body for managing and collecting fees from commercial vessels traversing the Red Sea. Al-Eryani stated in exclusive remarks that this move is designed to transform threats against international shipping into a consistent revenue stream for the Houthis. He detailed the IRGC's involvement, extending beyond military aid to encompass the design of financial and administrative frameworks for what he termed "maritime extortion."

The Yemeni government has elevated its preparedness levels in response to the escalating threats in the Red Sea. Officials are concerned about the potential repercussions of attacks on shipping on Yemen's economy and humanitarian situation, particularly amid ongoing discussions about the deteriorating living conditions in Houthi-controlled areas. Al-Eryani elaborated that the Houthi militia and the IRGC, guided by Iranian experts, are actively working to create this specialized entity.

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the Houthi militia and Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, under the supervision of Iranian experts, are working to establish an administrative entity specializing in managing and collecting levies from commercial ships.

According to Al-Eryani, the plan transcends mere fee collection; it represents an attempt by the Houthis to assert de facto authority over the Red Sea. By establishing this entity, the group aims to compel shipping companies to engage with them as an official body granting passage through this vital international maritime route. The minister warned that the success of this plan could establish a precedent for terrorist groups to achieve sustainable financing by imposing levies on trade through critical waterways.

"What we are facing today is not merely isolated attacks on ships," Al-Eryani stated. "It is an attempt to establish a terrorist economy based on extorting international maritime trade and turning a security threat into an integrated financial and administrative system." He emphasized that the alleged Iranian-backed initiative seeks not only to disrupt shipping but also to convert the Red Sea into a permanent income source for financing terrorism and bolstering Tehran's regional influence. The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council has previously pledged to prevent the continuation of such extortionist practices by the Iran-backed group.

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What we are facing today is not merely isolated attacks on ships. It is an attempt to establish a terrorist economy based on extorting international maritime trade and turning a security threat into an integrated financial and administrative system.