Iranian missiles seized in Arabian Sea

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- A shipment of suspected Iranian missiles allegedly bound for Yemen was seized this week in the Arabian Sea, 150 miles southeast of the port of Salalah in Oman.

Saudi Arabian officials first announced the seizure Wednesday, reporting anti-tank guided missiles, anti-tank shells and launchers were found aboard the boat, crewed by 14 Iranians. A Saudi-led coalition is in Yemen fighting forces backed by Iran.

"Iran is trying to fan flames in Yemen by smuggling weapons to the Houthis in violation of UN Resolution 2216," Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed al-Jubeir told the Al-Arabiya news channel, "Their last attempt was on Saturday, when an Iranian ship loaded with weapons was intercepted."

The Iranian government denied Saudi claims the shipment was part of an effort to wage psychological warfare, according to state-run Islamic Republic News Agency.

The Iranian government backs the Houthi militias, which ousted Yemeni Presiden Abdu Rabbo Mansour Hadi, going on to take control of a large swath of the country. Saudi Arabia leads a military coalition including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and what remains of the Yemeni government against the Houthis. The United Nations has been encouraging peace talks between the factions involved.

IHS Janes reports the date of the interception, as well as which naval vessels were involved, has been disputed by U.S. officials, who say a member of the U.S.-backed multinational Combined Maritime Forces coalition intercepted the boat. The USS Forrest Sherman arrived to assist.

U.S. Navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Tim Hawkins told Voice of America the illegal weapons appeared to be both Iranian and Russian in origin, and that the crew had indicated their destination was Somalia. Hawkins said the boat was not registered to any country, and that most of the weapons were disposed of at sea. The crew was allowed to leave.