The American administration is considering blacklisting the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen as part of President Donald Trump’s strategy to pressure Tehran, revealed American officials according to the Washington Post Thursday.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Arabian Gulf Affairs in the Near East Bureau at the US Department of State Tim Lenderking had spoken of this measure to Asharq Al-Awsat in September.
He stated at the time: “We will wait and see whether such a step will facilitate the political solution in Yemen or not.”
State Department sources said that discussions to blacklist the Houthis have been going on for months. The US administration had not taken any step in that direction in order to give diplomacy a chance to push forward peace talks between the warring parties in Yemen.
These discussions intensified in recent months in order to take a tough stance on Iran-backed groups and Tehran’s financial and military support to a number of militias in the Middle East, including the Houthis.
The sources revealed that the Trump administration is considering a number of possible steps against the Houthis, such as freezing their assets.
Some American officials voiced concerns that blacklisting the Houthis would complicate peace negotiations, led by the United Nations. It would also be considered an escalation by Washington against the Houthis, said the Washington Post.
Officials are concerned with the Houthis’ stalling tactics, rejection of solutions and refusal to join consultations, which were last held in Geneva in September.
UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths had stated recently that all parties were prepared to attend a new round of consultations, set for the end of November. The UN said on Thursday, however, that the consultations may be postponed to before the year’s end.
Should the US administration blacklist the Houthis, that would lead to a freeze of their assets and a travel ban. The measure would also lead to sanctions against officials suspected of financing the militias, meaning Iran. Alternatives to the blacklisting include imposing strict sanctions against the Houthis and cutting their financial and military supplies from Iran.
