Secretary of State Pompeo asserted that "the reason we sell weapons to Saudi Arabia is very straightforward: they're an important strategic partner of the U.S... that strategic relationship is absolutely vital to the U.S." He added that "as for Yemen, it's a complicated place. The Iranians have provided weapons systems to the Huthis there, where they have now built missiles that are landing in Saudi Arabia. No, no, no, America wouldn't tolerate this for a second. If the Iranians had provided missiles to a group that was launching weapons systems into Des Moines, I am confident you would demand that your government stand up and push back against that, in the same way the Saudi government is pushing back against that".