Iran Defense Ministry reacts to Pentagon stance on aid ship

The Iranian Defense Ministry has lashed out at the Pentagon over commentary against the Islamic Republic’s deployment of an aid ship to Yemen.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the ministry denounced the US complicity in the “genocide” committed in Yemen.

“By supporting the genocide in Yemen, the US is an accomplice of the war criminals,” the statement read, adding that the shipment of aid from Iran to the war-torn country meant to “relieve the suffering” of the people in the Arab world’s poorest country.

The US is losing its image in Yemen and the rest of the region by backing “infanticide regimes” such as Saudi Arabia and Israel, it added.

Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steve Warren slammed Iran’s initiative to deliver aid to Yemenis, calling it unhelpful and unnecessary.

Iran’s Nejat (Rescue) cargo ship, containing 2,500 tons of much-needed aid, including food, medical supplies and tents, left the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas for Yemen on Monday and is heading for the impoverished country.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said earlier on Wednesday that “no permission will be granted to countries involved in the war on Yemen to inspect the ship carrying the Islamic Republic of Iran’s humanitarian aid.”

Saudi Arabia started its military aggression against Yemen on March 26 – without a UN mandate.

According to the latest UN figures, the Saudi military campaign has so far claimed the lives of over 1,400 people and injured close to 6,000, roughly half of whom have been civilians.