Houthis Ready To Attack US Ships In Red Sea After US Strikes Iran’s Nuclear Sites

Image US president Donald Trump: Addressing the nation at the White House following the attack

Yemen’s Houthis threatened to target the American ships and warships in the Red Sea if the US back Israel in its ongoing strikes on Iran. The threat comes just hours after U.S. forces launched a series of strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, joining Israel in a dramatic escalation of the regional conflict.

US president Donald Trump stunned the world by launching a massive military strike intended to terminate Iran’s quest for a nuclear weapon.

Addressing the nation at the White House following the attack, Trump said that Iran’s main nuclear sites, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, were “obliterated” in what he described as “spectacular military success”. 

Tensions escalated dramatically in the Middle East after Donald Trump announced that the United States had completed a “very successful attack” on three nuclear sites in Iran – Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.

“All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors,” Trump posted on his Truth Social account, adding that it is now “time for peace”.

The threat from Houthis was issued on Saturday in a statement by the spokesperson of the Yemeni armed forces Yahya Sare’e. “In the event of the American involvement in the attack and aggression against Iran with the Israeli enemy, the armed forces will target its ships and warships in the Red Sea,” Sare’e declared.

Sare’e emphasised that the group is closely monitoring all movements in the region, including what he described as “hostile movements,” and will take the necessary measures to protect itself.

The group considers any American attack on Iran to be aimed at “removing Tehran as an obstacle to an Israeli plan to dominate the region,” Sare’e said, adding that “this is something that cannot be ignored.”

It was not clear until Saturday whether the United States would attack Iran alongside its ally Israel, which has been engaged in a war with Iran for eleven days.

For months, Trump said he was dedicated to a diplomatic push to persuade Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions.

The president addressed the nation regarding the strikes late Saturday night, saying that “Iran’s key nuclear facilities have been completely and totally obliterated” and issuing a warning to Iran to strive for a peace deal in its war with Israel. 

“If peace doesn’t come quickly we will go to those other targets with precision, speed and skill.”

Prior to his address, the president wrote on his Truth Social platform that a “Any retaliation by Iran against the United States of America will be met with force far greater than what was witnessed tonight.”

Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Sunday condemned US attacks on key nuclear sites as “outrageous” and said his country has a right to defend its sovereignty.

“The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences,” he posted on X, adding that the attacks were “lawless and criminal” behaviour.

“In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people.”

The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi said he will call an emergency meeting of the IAEA board of governors on Monday in light of the “urgent situation” in Iran following the latest attacks on the country’s nuclear facilities.

The director general said the IAEA has been informed by the Iranian regulatory authorities that there has been no increase in off-site radiation levels after the recent attacks on three Iranian nuclear facilities, including the Fordow uranium enrichment site.

“As of this time, we don’t expect that there will be any health consequences for people or the environment outside the targeted sites,” he said. “We will continue to monitor and assess the situation in Iran and provide further updates as additional information becomes available.”

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday called on Iran to “return to the negotiating table” after the US carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

“Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat,” Starmer said on X, adding that “stability in the region is a priority”.

“We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis.”

The UK, a key ally of the United States, confirmed it had not been involved in the overnight strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites.

“The UK did not participate in these strikes,” posted on X the UK secretary of state for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs David Lammy.

Britain has sought to de-escalate the situation while still opposing Iran’s nuclear programme since Israel launched strikes on Iran over a week ago.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump on his “bold decision.”

“History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world’s most dangerous regime, the world’s most dangerous weapons,” Netanyahu said.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called the strikes a “dangerous escalation,” as world leaders began chiming in with calls for diplomacy.

“There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region and the world,” he said in a statement.

He called on Member States to de-escalate and to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law.