TEHRAN, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said the United States and Britain had made a "strategic mistake" by attacking the Yemen-based Houthis, a move that he said could expand the scope of the conflicts and heighten tensions in the region.
He made the remarks in a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York on Tuesday, according to a statement published on the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website on Wednesday.
He emphasized Iran's stance on maintaining the shipping and maritime security in the Red Sea, stressing that the Houthis aimed to put an end to Israel's "crimes" and killing of civilians in Gaza by stopping the Israel-bound ships.
While praising the UN chief for his efforts and positions to end the killing of the "innocent and defenseless" people in the Palestinian coastal enclave, Amir-Abdollahian also highlighted the necessity to stop the Israeli attacks against Palestinians and facilitate, through consultations, the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Guterres, for his part, condemned the war in Gaza and called for ending the conflict and sending aid to the war-torn region, stressing the Palestinians' right to self-determination.
He said that it was impossible to send humanitarian aid to Gaza without achieving a ceasefire first.
The UN chief pointed to the Red Sea developments, expressing concern about the expansion of the conflicts in the region.
Guterres said Iran had an important role to play in promoting peace and stability in the region.
Starting on Jan. 11, the United States and Britain have launched several rounds of strikes on the Houthi targets in Yemen in response to the Houthis' attacks on Israel-bound and -affiliated ships in the Red Sea.
The Houthis say their attacks are aimed at stopping the ongoing Israeli strikes against Gaza and showing solidarity with Palestinians.
Israel has been fighting with Hamas in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, after the group launched a surprise attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people. Israel has so far killed over 25,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to the Gaza-based Health Ministry. ■
