The US State Department displayed on Thursday photos of Iranian-made missile parts seized by the US Navy in the Arabian Sea and believed to be en route to the Houthi group in Yemen.
A warship of the US Navy has captured parts of most sophisticated missiles, which are thought to be linked to Iran, on a boat intercepted in the Arabian Sea on 25 November and said to be headed for Yemen, the US envoy to Iran said at press conference in Washington.
The capture included components of "anti-ship cruise missiles, land-attack cruise missiles, air defense missiles and anti-tank missiles," Brian Hook added, noting that these parts are the most sophisticated weapons seized by US Navy during Yemen's conflict.
These components are more proof of Iran's efforts to inflame conflicts in the region, the US diplomat told reporters.
On Wednesday, the Pentagon confirmed in statement that a US destroyer on 25 November discovered sophisticated missile parts on an unidentified vessel, and that initial investigation indicates their origin is Iran.
The USS Forrest Sherman stopped a wooden boat, US officials said, before US Navy personnel boarded the ship and discovered the missile parts.
While they did not define the exact number of the missiles or parts, the officials said the "large cache" is now in US custody.
The boat has been towed to the port, and its crew been handed over to Yemeni coastguard, according to the officials.
