Washington: The United States is pursuing a stringent diplomatic deal to halt Iran’s nuclear programme and mitigate its support for Houthi rebels in Yemen, aiming to foster Middle East stability. During a State Department briefing on April 15, 2025, Spokesperson Tammy Bruce cited Ambassador Steven Witkoff’s objective: “A deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a [US President Donald] Trump deal. Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East – meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponisation programme.”
The statement follows “positive and constructive” United States-Iran talks hosted by Oman, with a second meeting set for April 19, 2025. Witkoff conducted talks with the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, which were hosted by the Omani Foreign Minister, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, on April 12, 2025. The White House statement described, “the discussions were very positive and constructive,…the sides agreed to meet again next Saturday.”
Bruce linked Iran’s nuclear ambitions to regional instability, including its backing of Houthis in Yemen, stating, “The nexus of the nature of what’s happening in the Middle East” involves “the remarkable fact that Iran is at the table regarding their condition, which has also been affected, of course, by the degrading of Hizballah.”
Earlier, in the April 8, 2025, briefing, Bruce elaborated on Yemen, noting United States Agency for International Development cuts due to Houthi interference: “The largest group of World Food Programme awards terminated were in Yemen and Afghanistan through an executive order that was issued based on concern that the funding was benefitting terrorist groups, including the Houthis.” A 2024 United Nations report confirms Iran’s supply of drones and missiles to Houthis, fueling Red Sea attacks, including a January 2025 strike on a United States-flagged vessel, per United States Naval Forces Central Command.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, today condemned the continued US airstrikes on various areas in Yemen, which have resulted in the “martyrdom” and injury of Yemeni citizens and the destruction of civilian homes and infrastructure. He also focused on condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank, alleging “genocide” and “war crimes,” but did not address nuclear talks or Houthi support, limiting its relevance to United States-Iran negotiations.
Bruce, on April 15, clarified the United States’ stance on Iran’s nuclear programme, stating, “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon or an enrichment programme,” despite Witkoff’s mixed signals on enrichment levels (3.67% versus elimination). The United States Department of the Treasury sanctioned 17 Iranian entities in January 2025 for Houthi support, as per a Treasury release, complementing diplomatic efforts.
On Yemen, Bruce’s April 15 comments noted the Houthis’ “ability to resist is degraded,” aligning with United States Central Command’s February 2025 report of 100+ airstrikes targeting Houthi sites. She avoided confirming ground invasion support, saying, “That’s not something I can remark on.” The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported 4.7 million displaced in Yemen by March 2025, emphasising the crisis’s severity.
– global bihari bureau
