Watch: Iran Says Houthis to Permit Rescuers to Salvage Burning Red Sea Oil Tanker

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have agreed to allow tugboats and rescue ships to assist a Greek-flagged oil tanker that has been burning in the Red Sea, citing “humanitarian and environmental concerns,” according to Iran’s mission to the United Nations on Wednesday. However, the Houthis have not provided specific details and are believed to have previously blocked an attempt to salvage the vessel while continuing their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

The attack on the Sounion last week was one of the most significant assaults by the Iranian-backed Houthis in recent weeks. These attacks, which are linked to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, have disrupted $1 trillion in trade that usually passes through the Red Sea and have also affected aid deliveries to war-torn regions like Sudan and Yemen.

Iran’s U.N. mission stated that after the fire on the Sounion and the resulting environmental risks, several countries, which were not named, reached out to the Houthis, asking for a temporary ceasefire to allow tugboats and rescue ships to reach the area.

The mission mentioned that “Ansar Allah,” another name for the Houthis, had agreed to this request, but did not provide further details. The Houthis, who have been involved in various aggressive acts including detaining aid workers, using child soldiers, and suppressing dissent since they took control of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014, have also not offered additional information.

Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul-Salam, speaking through the Houthi-controlled SABA news agency, claimed that the attack demonstrated their commitment to targeting shipping. He noted that after being contacted by several international parties, particularly from Europe, the rebels allowed the towing of the burning oil tanker Sounion, though he did not elaborate further.

On Tuesday, the Pentagon reported that a “third party” had tried to send two tugboats to assist the Sounion, but these efforts were blocked by the Houthis. Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder criticized the Houthis’ actions, stating that they showed a “blatant disregard for human life and the potential environmental disaster” that could result from the situation.

Ryder also indicated that the Sounion seems to be leaking oil into the Red Sea, which is home to important coral reefs and other wildlife. However, the European Union’s Operation Aspides, which works to protect shipping in the area, reported as recently as Wednesday that the ship was not leaking oil.

Throughout their campaign, the Houthis have seized one ship, sunk two others, and caused the deaths of four sailors. Other missiles and drones launched by the rebels have either been intercepted by a U.S.-led coalition in the Red Sea or have failed to hit their targets.

The Houthis claim they are targeting ships connected to Israel, the U.S., or the U.K. in an effort to pressure Israel into ending its actions against Hamas in Gaza. However, many of the targeted ships have had little or no link to the conflict, with some even bound for Iran.

In the case of the Sounion, the Houthis have alleged that the Greek company operating the ship had other vessels servicing Israel. However, the Joint Maritime Information Center, a multinational organization led by the U.S. Navy, assessed that the Sounion “has no direct association with Israel, the U.S., or the U.K. within its business structure,” though it noted that some of the company’s ships had “visited Israel in the recent past.”