Iran's New York mission at the United Nations said that the Houthi group, which is aligned with Iran in Yemen, has agreed to a short-term truce to enable tugboats and other rescue vessels to reach the damaged crude oil tanker Sounion under Greek flag in the Red Sea.

Iran's U.N. Mission said that "Several countries reached out to Ansarullah, requesting a brief truce in order for tugboats and other rescue vessels to enter the incident area." Ansarullah agreed to the request, citing humanitarian and environmental concerns.

Last week, multiple projectiles were fired at the Sounion off Yemen's port of Hodeidah. The Sounion was still burning in the Red Sea, and it now appears that oil is leaking out of it. A Pentagon spokesman stated on Tuesday.

Houthi militants who control Yemen's largest region claimed they had attacked it. The group is attacking ships to show solidarity with Palestinians during the conflict between Hamas and Israel militants in Gaza.

Mohammed Abdulsalam, the Houthis' spokesperson in Yemen, said on Wednesday that there was no temporary truce. The group had only agreed to allow the towing the oil tanker Sounion when several international parties approached the group.

Air Force Major-General Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesperson, said that on Tuesday a third party tried to send tugs to salvage the Sounion but was threatened by the Houthis.

Iran's U.N. Mission responded on Wednesday, saying: "The failure of certain countries to provide assistance and prevent an spill of oil in the Red Sea is due to their negligence rather than a fear of being targeted." (Reporting and editing by Katharine Oatis, Jonathan Oatis, and Jonathan Jackson)

(source: Reuters)