United States Mission to the United Nations
Office of Press and Public Diplomacy
February 27, 2018
We welcome the final report of the Panel of Experts on Yemen (the “Panel”), established pursuant to Security Council resolution 2140 (2014), published on February 15, 2018 (the “report”).
We jointly express our grave concerns regarding its finding that Iran is in non-compliance with the arms embargo established by paragraph 14 of resolution 2216 (2015) by failing to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer of Iranian arms and related materiel, including “extended-range” short-range ballistic missiles (ER-SRBM); ER-SRBM related military equipment; and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology that can be considered military equipment, to the then Houthi/Saleh alliance in Yemen. We condemn Iran’s non-compliance, as described by the Panel, which poses serious risks to peace and stability in the region. We call upon Iran to immediately cease all activities that are inconsistent with or would violate the terms of Security Council resolution 2216.
Security Council resolution 2216 (2015) requires all states to prevent the supply of arms or related materiel or assistance to designated persons or entities listed in the resolution. The report identified Iranian arms and related materiel, particularly ER-SRBM and UAV technology that were introduced to Yemen after the imposition of the targeted arms embargo in resolution 2216, leading the Panel to conclude that Iran is in non-compliance with the resolution.
We took note of the Panel’s findings that the remnants of the ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis against civilian targets in Saudi Arabia on July 22 and November 4 were of Iranian origin, noting in the report that: “[m]any of the internal design features, external characteristics and the dimensions of the ER-SRBM remnants inspected by the Panel are consistent with the Iranian designed and manufactured Qiam-1 missile.”
The Panel further warned that the Houthis’ use of such ballistic missile technology against Saudi Arabia, “has the potential to turn a local conflict into a broader regional one.”
These findings are of great concern. It is crucial that Iran does not carry out any action that is inconsistent with or would violate Security Council resolutions, and thereby risk destabilising the security of the region and increasing the threat of broader conflict. We condemn such actions, support efforts to prevent further escalation of tensions in the Middle East and call on all countries to guarantee the full implementation of all Security Council resolutions.
The Panel also commented on alleged violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. We call upon all parties to the conflict to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law, as applicable, and to allow continued safe and unhindered access for humanitarian and commercial cargo through all Yemen’s airports and ports, (including Hodeida), including food, fuel and medical supplies, to the populations of all affected Governorates. We should also take steps to reinforce the UN verification and inspection mechanism (UNVIM).
Recognizing that the humanitarian situation will continue to deteriorate in the absence of a political solution, we welcome the appointment of a new UN Special Envoy for Yemen and urge all parties to engage in good faith with the UN-led process, which offers the only way to achieve a sustainable end to the conflict.
