US defence secretary warns Iran of consequences for "lethal" support to Houthis in Yemen

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has warned that Iran would face consequences for supporting the Houthis.

“Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing. You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing,” Caliber.Az quotes Hegseth as saying on X.

Hegseth's warning comes as the U.S. and Iran resume nuclear talks. American and Iranian negotiators are set to meet again in Rome on May 3.

Hegseth later reposted Donald Trump's March post on Truth Social on his personal X page, in which the president said he would hold Iran responsible for any attacks carried out by the Houthis. The Iranian leader has previously claimed that the Houthis' actions in Yemen were independent.

The warning from U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth marks a significant escalation in rhetoric as tensions between the United States and Iran rise over regional conflicts and the ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. The Houthis, a Yemeni rebel group aligned with Iran, have repeatedly targeted commercial vessels and U.S.-allied infrastructure, prompting American military responses in the region. Washington has accused Tehran of providing weapons, intelligence, and financial support to the Houthis, despite Iranian denials.

This comes at a sensitive time, as American and Iranian negotiators are scheduled to resume nuclear talks in Rome on May 3, in an attempt to revive or renegotiate the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was abandoned by the Trump administration in 2018. These talks aim to curtail Iran’s nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanctions relief, but progress has been complicated by regional confrontations and mutual distrust.

By Khagan Isayev