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Yemen's Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba has characterized the relationship between the Houthi movement and Iran as "mutual instrumentalization." In her first interview since assuming the portfolio, al-Zouba explained that this term accurately reflects the dynamic, where both parties benefit from the association.

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mutual instrumentalization

Al-Zouba emphasized that the Houthis are not merely a tool for Iran but possess their own domestic agenda, driven by what she described as a "terrorist group that has an ideological and political project at home, built on sheer violence and the myth of discriminatory and racist dynastic entitlement." She asserted that the group believes in an absolute right to power and wealth, aiming to establish a closed, isolationist theocratic system hostile to citizenship and freedoms.

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The Houthis benefit from Iran to strengthen their project at home, while Iran benefits from the Houthis and Yemen’s strategic location as a tool of influence and pressure in the region.

The minister elaborated on the reciprocal benefits: the Houthis gain strength for their domestic project from Iran, while Iran leverages the Houthis and Yemen's strategic location for regional influence and pressure. However, this reliance is expanding beyond Iran, with the Houthis increasing cooperation with terrorist elements, smuggling networks, and armed groups in the Horn of Africa and Iraq. This creates an increasingly intertwined web of interests and smuggling routes, amplifying the cross-border threat.

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The terrorist Houthi movement has expanded their cooperation and exchange of interests with terrorist elements and organizations, smuggling networks linked to the Yemeni arena, terrorist groups in the Horn of Africa, and armed groups in Iraq.

Al-Zouba expressed concern that Yemen and its strategic location are being transformed into a platform for threatening neighboring countries, shipping lanes, and maritime routes. She cited recent attacks reaching Mokha port and efforts to weaponize the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab, and the Gulf of Aden. These actions, she warned, drag Yemen into conflicts detrimental to its people and threaten regional security, stability, and international navigation.

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I do not treat them as separate incidents.