As Middle East dynamics shift amid the ongoing Gaza war, hostilities between Israel and Iran, and the recalibration of Iran’s regional alliances, Yemen stands out as a persistent anomaly.
While Iran’s traditional proxies—such as Hezbollah and the Assad regime—have either been demolished or weakened, the Houthis in Yemen has not only endured but expanded their regional profile. This resilience raises urgent questions about the evolving nature of Iranian influence and the future of Yemen’s sovereignty and stability. The Houthis position at the edge of the Red Sea has also highlighted to global policymakers and observers the impact the group can have, consistently targeting shipping in one of the busiest trading lanes in the world.
The restoration of Saudi-Iranian ties, mediated by China in 2023, and direct confrontations between Iran and Israel have exposed both the limits and the risks of Tehran’s proxy model. Yemen now offers a critical test case: can it serve as a platform for regional de-escalation—or will it remain an arena for external competition between Iran and its foes? The killing of Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi, and several other leading members of the Iranian-backed group, by Israeli strikes in August 2025, demonstrates the instability affecting Yemen’s future.
This panel will explore the broader implications of Iran-Yemen relations against the backdrop of regional diplomacy, proxy warfare, and emerging patterns of strategic realignment in the Gulf. Key questions to be addressed include:
- How strategic is the Iran-Houthi relationship in the regional (dis)order?
- What role does Yemen play in Iran’s security calculus, especially amid direct conflict with Israel and renewed diplomacy with Gulf states?
- Can Yemen become a space for regional cooperation, or will it continue to be shaped by competing foreign interventions?
- What diplomatic, political, and security steps can help re-anchor Yemen in a stable and sovereign regional framework?
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