On Tuesday, a senior advisor to Iran’s foreign ministry, Ali-Ashgar Khaji, spoke with Mohammed Abdul Salam, a senior negotiator for Yemen’s Houthi-appointed National Salvation Government. The telephonic discussions centred around the developments regarding the peace process in Yemen and formed part of Iran’s ongoing efforts to settle the Yemeni crisis.
Khaji expressed his satisfaction with the progress made in the peace negotiations led by the United Nations’ (UN) Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, and said he hoped that the “Yemeni people’s resistance will result in the lifting of the cruel blockade and the establishment of a lasting peace.”
Iran is a major player in the ongoing conflict in Yemen, which has over the years morphed into a complex proxy war for regional and international powers. The current discussions were held after Saudi Arabia proposed an initiative to end the war in Yemen last month. The Saudi proposal, which seeks to achieve a “comprehensive ceasefire” across the war-torn country under UN supervision, was dismissed by both the Islamic Republic and the Houthi rebels. Iran’s ambassador to Sana’a Hasan Irlu tweeted that “the Saudi initiative for Yemen is a project to perpetuate the war, and to continue the occupation and war crimes.” Likewise, the Houthis also said that the proposal was “nothing new.”
The leaders also discussed Tehran’s diplomatic attempts to help resolve the issue regarding the Safer oil tanker, which has been abandoned in the Red Sea near Yemen’s coast, not far from the Port of Hodeidah. According to the UN, the vessel “has been permanently anchored at the same location for more than 30 years without any dry-docking or shipyard repairs.” This has left it at risk of “leaking, exploding, or catching fire”, which could create catastrophic environmental consequences for both Yemen and the broader region. Such an incident would also worsen the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Yemen, as a spill could lead to the closure of the Hodeidah Port, cutting off Yemen from vital aid and supplies.
Iran has been arming and financially backing Yemen’s Houthi rebels since 2014, when a civil war broke out between them and the internationally recognised Yemeni government led by Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. Tehran has also shown support for the Houthi’s National Salvation Government, which was formed in 2016 as Yemen’s unofficial executive body. Simultaneously, the country has also introduced its own peace proposals to end the conflict. In 2015, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif submitted a four-point peace plan to the UN; however, like most regional and international initiatives on Yemen, the plan failed to materialise.
Iranian, Yemeni Diplomats Hold Talks Regarding Peace Process
The discussions centred around the developments regarding the peace process in Yemen and were a part of Iran’s ongoing efforts to settle the Yemeni crisis.
April 7, 2021
Senior advisor to Iran's Foreign Ministry Ali-Ashgar Khaji SOURCE: IRAN FOREIGN MINISTRY