Local Editor

The United Nations [UN] special envoy to Yemen said on Sunday that the humanitarian situation in Yemen has so gravely deteriorated under more than three months of Saudi-led military attacks that a ceasefire and political dialogues appear to be the only option to end the crisis there.

In a telephone conversation between the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, and Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Ould Ahmed said that the humanitarian situation in Yemen has turned critical, adding that only a ceasefire and negotiations can end the crisis there.

He added that Iran’s support could contribute to the efforts to stop the war and alleviate the suffering of the people in Yemen.

He called on all parties involved to cooperate to resolve the crisis in the impoverished country.

For his part, Abdollahian said that the only solution to the crisis in Yemen is the establishment of a ceasefire and dialog.

He slammed Saudi Arabia’s aggression on Yemen as a strategic mistake, saying it will only result in the spread of terrorism and insecurity across the Persian Gulf region.

"Since the onset of the foreign military strikes on Yemen, Iran has unequivocally announced that the Saudi military action is a strategic mistake, the only outcome of which will be the slaughter of the people of Yemen and the spread of terrorism and insecurity in the sensitive Persian Gulf region," he said.

Abdollahian said that, "The Islamic Republic believes Yemeni groups and factions can reach sustainable agreement under the supervision of the UN."

A Saudi-led coalition, backed by the United States, has been carrying out deadly airstrikes against Yemen since March. The airstrikes have not been authorized by the UN.