Iranian officials complain Houthis have ‘gone rogue,’ no longer obey Tehran

The Houthis have taken steps that suggest they are increasingly capable of operating without Iranian direction.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Iran is confronting an unusual challenge inside its terror proxies, as officials in Tehran now admit that two of their key partners – the Houthis in Yemen and several factions in Iraq – are increasingly acting on their own terms.

According to one senior official, the Houthi leadership has become less responsive to guidance from Tehran.

The official said the Houthis “have gone rogue” and no longer operate with the level of coordination Iran previously relied on.

Similar frustration has emerged with multiple Iraqi factions that have ignored warnings to scale back activity during heightened regional tensions.

Iran’s loss of sway comes after major setbacks to its regional camp.

Israeli military operations severely damaged Hezbollah’s leadership ranks, and Hamas has become isolated in Gaza. Those developments elevated the Houthis to the position of Iran’s most important remaining proxy force, making their growing independence particularly worrisome for Tehran.

In an effort to regain influence, a senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander was dispatched to Sanaa last week.

Iranian officials told The Telegraph that the goal is to stabilize what remains of Iran’s so-called “axis of resistance” and prevent further fragmentation.

Yet the Houthis have taken steps that suggest they are increasingly capable of operating without Iranian direction. The report said the group has diversified smuggling routes, expanded weapons concealment methods, and reduced its logistical dependence on Tehran.

Former Yemeni diplomat Mahmoud Shehrah told The Telegraph that the Houthis’ behavior is driven by their own worldview and internal ideology rather than by foreign prompting.

“The Houthis don’t need someone to encourage them. This is about the Houthis’ beliefs, and they have their literature and their narratives,” he said.

Relations worsened earlier this year when Iran remained on the sidelines during heavy US strikes on Houthi sites.

Since the October 7 attack on Israel, the group has strengthened missile stockpiles, tightened control over Sanaa, and increased activities ranging from taxation and aid diversion to arms trafficking and Red Sea disruptions.

Yemen’s rugged terrain continues to shield its drone and missile infrastructure.