Tehran [Iran], September 18 (ANI): Iran on Thursday (local time) strongly condemned any potential aggression against “Islamic holy sites” while warning against using unverified claims to incite regional strife or divide Muslim nations, following allegations of a Houthi drone targeting the holy city of Mecca.In a statement posted on X, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei emphasised that protecting sacred sites remains a universal priority, but cautioned against drawing conclusions without concrete evidence.”Any aggression against Islamic holy sites, particularly Mecca al-Mukarramah, Medina al-Munawwarah, and Al-Aqsa Mosque, as well as threats to their pilgrims and neighbours, is a condemned act,” he wrote.In a veiled attack against Saudi Arabia, Baghaei affirmed that a specific party, the Houthis, cannot be accused by “mere claims” of intercepting a drone strike targeting Mecca.”At the same time, a mere claim of intercepting a drone en route to Mecca al-Mukarramah cannot constitute grounds for accusing a specific party, especially since the Yemeni government of Change and Construction has explicitly denied this claim,” he added.Baghaei called on regional actors to refrain from exploiting allegations involving holy sites to serve broader political objectives or deepen existing geopolitical divides.”The Islamic Republic of Iran emphasises the necessity of preventing the politicisation of the issue of Islamic sanctities and their security, and of not using it as a tool to incite strife and escalate regional tensions,” Baghaei wrote.The Iranian spokesperson also suggested that unverified operational reports could be intended to manipulate regional narratives, pointing to past incidents designed to distract from wider conflicts in West Asia:”Nor should we forget that our region has witnessed numerous instances of ‘false flag’ operations, particularly in recent months, aimed at diverting public opinion from the crimes committed by the Zionist entity and the United States in the region, and at sowing discord among Islamic countries.””Caution and vigilance must be exercised!” he remarked.ان أيّ اعتداء على الأماكن المقدسة الإسلامية، ولا سيما مكة المكرمة والمدينة المنورة والمسجد الأقصى، وكذلك تهديد الزائرين والمجاورين لها، هو أمرٌ مدان.وفي الوقت نفسه، فإن مجرد ادعاء اعتراض طائرة مسيّرة في طريقها إلى مكة المكرمة لا يمكن أن يشكّل أساسًا لاتهام طرفٍ بعينه، ولا سيما…— Esmaeil Baqaei (@IRIMFA_SPOX) September 17, 2026His remarks comeas the Yemeni government’s army said that it targeted Houthi supplies and military positions in Taiz and Mocha in southwestern Yemen, Al Jazeera reported.Additionally, Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi, in a meeting with the French Ambassador to Yemen, Catherine Corm-Kammoun, al-Alimi, said that Houthi forces are suffering “heavy blows” on the front lines in Taiz, Marib, Lahj, al-Jawf, Hajjah, al-Bayda and al-Dhale, Al Jazeera reported.Subsequently, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has said that it received a report of a tanker being pursued by a skiff that attempted to intercept it about 75 nautical miles east of Yemen’s port city of Aden.In a post on X, UKMTO said “A tanker travelling westbound has reported that a skiff has pursued and attempted to intercept the vessel.”UKMTO said authorities are investigating the incident and advised vessels in the area to exercise caution.Earlier on Wednesday,Yemen’s Houthi movement rejected Saudi Arabia’s claim that the group launched a drone towards the holy city of Mecca, calling the allegation “fabrications and lies” and asserting that its operations target Saudi military and oil facilities away from Islamic holy sites.In a statement posted on Telegram, Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree called out the Al Saud regime of Saudi Arabia, calling the attempt a deception, while denying that the rebel group posed a threat to the holy sites.”The fabrications and lies promoted by the criminal Al Saud regime regarding the targeting of the Honorable Mecca cannot deceive anyone, for it is they who desecrate it with debauchery and licentiousness and by importing prostitutes, and there is no threat from Yemen to the sanctities,” the statement read.Saree said Houthi operations were directed at “its oil facilities and military bases, which are far removed from the sacred sites.”The statement came after the Saudi-led coalition said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a drone south of Mecca on Tuesday evening before it entered the prohibited airspace around the holy city.Coalition spokesperson Major General Turki Al-Malki described the incident as a “hostile and terrorist act” and said the security of the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims was a “red line”. (ANI)(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)