After leak furor, Trump says attacks sent Iran-backed Houthis reeling

Newly recruited fighters who joined a Houthi military force intended to be sent to fight in support of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, march during a parade in Sanaa, Yemen December 2, 2023
Newly recruited fighters who joined a Houthi military force intended to be sent to fight in support of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, march during a parade in Sanaa, Yemen December 2, 2023

As controversy over leaked attack plans gripped Washington, US President Donald Trump said the strikes had successfully battered the Houthis in Yemen and that their Iranian patrons must soon negotiate a nuclear deal or else.

"The Houthis are absolutely on the run, the worst of them have been killed," Trump told reporters at the White House. "This is not an incompetent group of people. They make their own missiles. They get their missiles also from Iran. It's an offshoot of Iran, another offshoot."

"You have Hamas, you have Hezbollah, you have the Houthis. You've got a lot of stuff going on with Iran, and we sent a letter to Iran. You're going to have to be speaking to us one way or the other pretty soon, because we can't let this happen."

The remarks come after consternation in Washington among Trump's opponents about the inclusion of a prominent journalist in a chat conversation among senior officials about plans for a military campaign against the group.

Following an attack by Iran-backed Hamas militants on Israel on October 7, 2023 and Israel's incursion into Gaza, the Houthis began attacking commercial and military vessels in the waterways astride Yemen in what they called solidarity with Palestine.

The group, which controls much of the war-torn country, has been provided advanced drone and missile technology by Iran.

Trump has demanded Tehran come to a deal over its nuclear program or face a military intervention and warned any attack by the Houthis would be treated as emanating from Iran.

His ultimatum over the nuclear standoff was delivered in the form of a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has rejected previous overtures and said Trump and the United States cannot be trusted.

Iran denies seeking a nuclear weapon and the US director of national intelligence on Tuesday said Washington continues to assess that Tehran has not yet resolved to build one but that decision-makers there are increasingly promoting the idea.

Two top Trump officials have appeared to vary in recent days on the administration's precise demands on Iran.

White House National Security Advisor Michael Waltz said on Sunday that Washington seeks the full dismantling of Iran's nuclear program: "This is the full program. Give it up, or there will be consequences."

A softer line appeared to be mooted by Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff on Friday: “We should talk. We should clear up the misconceptions. We should create a verification program so that nobody worries about weaponization of your nuclear material."

Asked by Iran International if there was a discrepancy between the two sets of statements, a state department spokesperson said the president's line was unequivocal.

"President Trump has been clear: the United States cannot allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon," the spokesperson said.

"The President expressed his willingness to discuss a deal with Iran. If the Iranian regime does not want a deal, the President is clear, he will pursue other options, which will be very bad for Iran."