The story: Iran has rejected concerns expressed by the UK about rising tensions in the Red Sea, insisting that there must first be peace in Gaza. For weeks, commercial vessels deemed to have links to Israel have been targeted by Yemen’s Ansarullah movement, better known as the Houthis. The Iran-backed group is demanding a truce between Hamas and Israel in exchange for a halt to its attacks.

Meanwhile, an Iranian flotilla has entered the Red Sea as the UK says it is ready to take “direct action” against the Houthis to protect shipping. Separately, senior Iranian officials have met a Houthi spokesman in Tehran and commended the Yemeni movement for its “strong” support of the Palestinians amid...