Iranian initiative solution to problems in Yemen: FM
Yemeni Foreign Minister Hisham Sharaf praises the usefulness of the Iranian initiative in resolving the crisis in Yemen, saying it would be key to a solution.
The Iranian initiative to resolve the crisis in Yemen "is key to a solution," and it deals with the war and blockade in Yemen, in addition to a negotiation mechanism and a way to de-escalate the situation, Yemeni Foreign Minister Hisham Sharaf said Thursday.
"Studying the Iranian initiative or making slight adjustments to it is the key to finding a solution to the situation in Yemen," Sharaf added.
The Foreign Minister also stressed that Saudi Arabia was looking for a pretext to maintain its aggression, "But we would like to tell them they will not defeat the Yemeni people through their aggression, and what we want is negotiations in good faith."
He called on the Saudi coalition to end its support for the illegal militias and armed groups, underlining that these groups would impede any steps toward peace.
Sharaf also commented on the alleged Saudi footage of Al-Hudaydah port, which the coalition claimed to show scenes from a site of assembling and installing ballistic missiles, saying the footage was nothing but a piece of cinematic work aiming to create a pretext for a strike on Al-Hudaydah.
The scenes turned out to be extracted from a 2009 American documentary film about the US invasion of Afghanistan.
The Yemeni minister voiced his disappointment toward the international community, underscoring that every nation is looking for its best interest, "Therefore all countries are silent and standing idle, for their interests are linked to the countries of aggression, especially Saudi Arabia."
Iran had since April 2015 made an initiative to put an end to the war on Yemen, stipulating an immediate ceasefire in the country and initiating a humanitarian aid plan, also seeking a political solution as per which Yemen would have an inclusive government.
Tehran had expressed its readiness in March to support any peace initiative based on ending the aggression on Yemen in addition to a comprehensive ceasefire, ending the occupation, lifting the blockade, and initiating political dialogue.