Iran Offers to Broker Talks Between Saudi Arabia and Yemen
TEHRAN -- Iran’s foreign minister warned Saudi Arabia that continuing a military approach in Yemen would further complicate the region, offering Tehran’s assistance to initiate direct political dialogue between Riyadh and Sana’a.
In a phone call with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, Abbas Araghchi expressed “grave concern” over escalating tensions, saying the crises in West Asia have no military solution and that “insisting on a military approach and disregarding a political solution will only complicate the current situation”.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to provide any assistance needed to help initiate dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Yemen and facilitate a political settlement,” Araghchi said.
Saudi Arabia has not publicly responded to Araghchi’s offer. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Monday that the Yemen issue “should have been resolved long ago through an agreement between the Yemenis and Saudi Arabia,” adding that a roadmap for understanding had been established and Iran supported its implementation.
Speaking at a weekly press conference in Tehran, Baghaei said Iran is “deeply concerned about the events taking place in the Arabian Peninsula” and reiterated Tehran’s readiness to use its “good offices” to facilitate dialogue.
The spokesman warned that continued hostilities would have wider consequences.
“We believe that the continuation and escalation of tension will only lead to the exploitation of the Zionist regime in the region,” he said.
“We do not at all like the continuation of fire and war between the two Islamic countries. Our region is already in enough tension due to the actions of the United States and the Zionist regime.”
Baghaei also dismissed military alliances as a path to resolution, saying “new military alliances will not contribute to
resolving the Yemeni crisis,” pointing to the failure of a similar coalition formed a decade ago.
“What is needed is to work for alliances of peace, not alliances aimed at harming Islamic countries,” he said.
The Saudi foreign ministry confirmed the call took place, saying the two ministers discussed “the latest regional escalation and ongoing efforts to address it”.
“What is needed is to work for alliances of peace, not alliances aimed at harming Islamic countries,” he said.
The Saudi foreign ministry confirmed the call took place, saying the two ministers discussed “the latest regional escalation and ongoing efforts to address it”.