Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Yemen’s legitimate government in exile is considering cutting off diplomatic ties with Iran in response to its backing of the Houthi coup, sources close to the Yemeni presidency informed Asharq Al-Awsat.

The move comes as Iranian students reportedly attacked the Yemeni embassy in Tehran, with Yemen’s official authorities—now based out of Saudi Arabia—accusing Tehran of allowing the security breach. Yemeni authorities also accuse Iran of backing the Houthi coup.

“Yemen’s presidency is considering cutting diplomatic ties with Iran after it has proven that Tehran is providing assistance to the Houthi rebels, including logistical support,” the Yemeni presidential source said.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect his identity, the official said that Yemeni authorities have information that Iranian “experts” are on the ground in Yemen to provide assistance to the Houthis.

He also claimed that Iranian students broke the windows of Yemen’s embassy in Tehran, and were even able to storm the building, destroying documents and ripping up images of Yemen’s internationally recognized President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. “These acts of sabotage took place with the consent and complicity of Iranian security forces,” he alleged.

President Hadi has been in exile in Riyadh, after being forced to flee Aden following a Houthi advance on the southern port city. Hadi had earlier fled the capital Sana’a after being forced to resign and placed under house arrest following the Houthi takeover. He subsequently retracted his resignation, saying it had been made under duress, with Saudi Arabia and other Arab Gulf states backing his presidency against the Houthi coup.