Joe Biden delivers private message to Iran after Houthi attacks in the Red Sea

US President Joe Biden said on Saturday that he had sent a private message to Iran about the Houthi rebel group which has attacked cargo ships in the Red Sea.

Mr Biden said on Saturday afternoon that the communication about the Iran-backed group was “delivered privately,” adding “we’re confident we’re well-prepared”.

His message comes after Houthis earlier threatened a “strong and effective response” to a second US airstrike on its military facilities in Yemen.

The attack, on a radar site, was carried out overnight with Tomahawk missiles from the USS Carney. US Central Command described it as a “follow-on action on a specific military target”.

On Thursday, the US and UK launched retaliatory strikes on Houthi sites in Yemen after the militant group targeted cargo ships passing through the Red Sea and declared its support for Hamas.

In response to the attacks in the country, Yemen’s internationally-recognised government condemned the Houthis for “dragging the country into conflict”.

In a statement issued via Yemen’s official news agency Saba, the government claimed the rebels, which control large parts of the country, are “creating a conflict for propaganda” and are making “false claims” of support for Gaza.

The United Nations’ special envoy to Yemen, who co-ordinate’s the work of the organisation in the country, has also expressed concern over recent developments and urged “all involved to exercise maximum restraint”.

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In a statement, Hans Grundberg called for those involved to avoid actions that would “worsen the situation in Yemen, escalate the threat to maritime trade routes, or further fuel regional tensions at this critical time”.

He also stressed the need to “protect Yemeni civilians and to safeguard the progress of peace efforts” and urged all involved to “prioritise diplomatic channels over military options and calls for de-escalation”.

In order to maintain the safe passage of tankers in the region, the UK is not ruling out further military action against the Iran-backed group if it continues to launch attacks on ships, i understands.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said the UK participated in the first wave of strikes to ensure the “safety of UK vessels and the freedom of navigation across the Red Sea”.

But the former head of the British Army warned that the strikes risked intensifying the Houthi attacks and escalating tensions across the Middle East.

Shipping experts also said the strikes were “not good news” for the industry and could increase the costs of transporting goods. Any price hikes will ultimately be passed to the consumer, they warned.

Around 15 per cent of all the world’s shipping passes through the route being targeted by the Houthis. The UK Government has described the area as “vital to the global economy”.