US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Iran on Wednesday of flying Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) personnel into Yemen, alleging that Tehran's actions helped spark a renewed confrontation involving Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi movement. The claim marks a further escalation in an already tense standoff in the region, with Washington casting Iran's continued backing of the Houthis as a destabilising factor threatening both regional security and global shipping.

Iran's financial and logistical support for proxy groups including the Houthis has reportedly contributed to a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, raising fears over the safety of vital oil shipping lanes through the Red Sea. Analysts and commentators cited alongside the report warned that the escalation could trigger economic repercussions, with global investors said to be on high alert over potential disruption to crude oil markets amid the wider confrontation between the US, Iran and its regional allies.