Iran arming Yemen’s Houthis since 2009: U.N.

Iran has been shipping weapons to Yemen's Houthi rebels since at least 2009, according to a confidential U.N. report, indicating that Tehran's support dates back to the early years of the Shiite militia's insurgency.

The report by a panel of experts was presented to the Security Council's Iran sanctions committee last week as the United Nations seeks to broker an end to the Saudi-led air campaign in Yemen and a return to peace talks.

The panel of experts reported on the findings of an investigation into the 2013 seizure by Yemeni authorities of an Iranian ship, the Jihan, that was carrying weapons.

The information collected by the experts "suggests that the Jihan case follows a pattern of arms shipments to Yemen by sea that can be traced back to at least 2009," said the report seen by AFP.

"The analysis further suggests that the Islamic Republic of Iran was the origin of these shipments and that the intended recipients were the Houthis in Yemen or possibly in some cases further recipients in neighboring countries," it added.

"Current military Iranian support to Houthis in Yemen is consistent with patterns of arms transfers going back to more than five years to date."

Iran has denied charges of meddling in Yemen and instead accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out a military "aggression" against the troubled country after it launched an air campaign on March 26.