The orientalist linked the resumption of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea to US pressure on Iran.

The Yemeni Houthis have resumed attacks in the Red and Arabian Seas on ships linked to Israel as a response to US measures to put pressure on Iran. By acting through the Houthis, Tehran is showing Washington that it can create difficulties for its partner, Israel. This opinion was shared with Izvestia on March 12 by Sergey Balmasov, an expert at the Institute of the Middle East and an expert at the Russian Council on International Affairs.

"This should not be considered in the context of Gaza, but through an attempt to pressure [US President Donald] Trump's attack on Iran. This is a signal from Iran that if its interests in the nuclear program are not taken into account, then Tehran also has levers of pressure and influence on its closest ally, Israel," he said.

According to the source, the Houthis' actions will not affect Trump's policy: he now has more priority issues that need to be addressed. However, the expert believes, the United States can defiantly strike at the Houthi forces to demonstrate that Israel will not be left without protection.

"Perhaps Trump will take a step back, he is a billionaire, he will evaluate the benefits. By their actions, the Houthis are not capable of dealing a devastating blow to the Israeli economy, so this is not the problem that worries Trump in the first place. For example, he will not escalate this situation yet, he will not arrange large-scale bombing, as it was under [former US President Joe] Biden. <...> As he untangles the "Biden stables" that he inherited, Trump will deal with both Iran and the Houthis," Balmasov concluded.

Atomic rupture: Iran has ruled out dialogue with the United States on the nuclear deal

The unwillingness to make contact under the current pressure became known after Lavrov's meeting with the Iranian leadership, which was also discussed during the minister's visit to Tehran.

Prior to that, on February 4, Trump signed a memorandum on national security, which, according to him, exerts "maximum pressure" on Iran's nuclear program. He noted that Washington cannot allow Tehran to have nuclear weapons and create them.

The representative of the Iranian government, Fatemeh Mohajerani, in turn, said on February 12 that Tehran refuses to negotiate with Washington because the United States does not understand the language of diplomacy. According to her, the "maximum pressure" from the United States is not conducive to negotiations.