Iran-US Tensions Escalate as Houthis Target Airports and Vance Calls for Nuclear Curb
Iran-US war updates: Houthis strike Aden airport, Vance urges Iran to cut nuclear enrichment to end conflict.
POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — US Vice President JD Vance has urged Iran to significantly reduce its nuclear enrichment capacity to de-escalate the ongoing conflict, as tensions continue to rise with attacks by Iran-backed Houthis on Yemeni airports.
Vance, who has played a central role in U.S. negotiations, questioned why Iran needs 60% enriched fuel if it does not intend to build a nuclear weapon, calling it a “basic threshold issue.” He emphasized that meaningful action on enrichment would be necessary for the U.S. to consider ending the seven-month-long war.
The Houthis, backed by Iran, have intensified their attacks, including a missile strike near Aden International Airport just before a flight was set to land. The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a ballistic missile north of Riyadh, while fighting between the Houthis and Yemen’s recognized government has worsened across multiple fronts.
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Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump criticized Iran’s leadership, claiming no one knows who is in charge, though Iran’s foreign ministry denied this, accusing U.S. officials of inconsistent messaging. Oil prices rose due to supply concerns from both a Gulf storm and Houthi attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure.
The Yemeni government condemned the attack on Aden airport, stating that a missile landed near the runway minutes before a flight arrived, forcing the plane to divert. The Saudi-led coalition claimed to have destroyed a Houthi missile, while the Houthis reported strikes on Abha airport, though confirmation remains pending.
Trump also faced scrutiny over remarks about Iranian attacks on U.S. cities, which the White House clarified were meant to emphasize preventing Iran from gaining nuclear capability rather than endorsing such attacks. Meanwhile, video footage showed Yemeni forces recapturing territory near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait from Houthis, highlighting the brutal nature of the conflict.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
