News - Yemen: Yemen’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the UN Security Council’s decision to renew sanctions on Yemen, describing the move as a reflection of American interests in the region.

In a statement, Acting Foreign Minister Abdu Al-Wahid Abu Ras said Resolution 2801 was based on claims made by parties involved in the war on Yemen, while the Yemeni perspective continues to be excluded. He added that the US, UK are seeking to use the resolution to legitimize the militarization of the Red Sea and threaten navigation in both the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea.

Abu Ras stressed that Security Council resolutions “will not change Yemen’s position on the Palestinian cause.”

He also praised the countries that abstained from voting on the resolution, expressing hope their future stances would be stronger.

Criticizing the UN Panel of Experts, Abu Ras said Yemen does not recognize or engage with the panel due to its politicized nature and reports “filled with misinformation and false narratives.” He said the panel’s latest report contains significant inaccuracies and misleading claims.

Abu Ras concluded by warning international and regional parties against using the resolution as a pretext to harm Yemen’s interests, noting that “recent history offers clear lessons” about such actions.

The United Nations Security Council recently adopted a British-sponsored draft resolution extending sanctions on Yemen for an additional 12 months. The resolution passed with 13 votes in favor and abstentions from Russia and China.

The renewed sanctions regime includes financial restrictions and travel bans, along with expanded monitoring mechanisms targeting what the Council describes as dual-use components and precursor materials that could be used in weapons manufacturing. The UK representative, James Kariuki, stated that the updated measures aim to address what he called the “increasing complexity and scale of Houthi smuggling and financing.”

The resolution also contains provisions related to maritime interdictions, requiring UN member states to inspect vessels operating in the Red Sea and surrounding waters. These measures have drawn criticism from major powers: China abstained, denouncing the maritime inspection clause as “arbitrary,” while Russia described the text as “unbalanced” and “politicized.”

The decision comes amid heightened tensions in the Red Sea and ongoing foreign escalation against Yemen, which Sana’a argues is being legitimized through such UN decisions. Yemen says the renewed sanctions fail to address the blockade, humanitarian suffering, or foreign aggression—issues it considers central to any genuine path toward peace.