Local Editor

German and Omani foreign ministers called for a cease-fire in Yemen on Tuesday as a UN special envoy and a senior Iranian diplomat also arrived in Germany’s capital of Berlin for talks to end the US-led Saudi aggression.

"The recent bombings of ports and road blockades in Yemen have made it much more difficult for international humanitarian organizations to deliver aid to civilians," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said at a press conference with his Omani counterpart Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, as he slammed the recent Saudi-led airstrikes on the cities and urged for a cease-fire to ease civilian suffering.

Steinmeier backed Oman’s diplomatic efforts to help the UN broker a political solution to the conflict, and said that special envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, would also have talks in Berlin later on Tuesday.

Steinmeier further said, "We have agreed today to remain active in appealing partners in the region towards reaching for at least a cease-fire in the very near future". 

For his part, Bin Alawi expressed grave concerns for the ongoing fighting in neighboring Yemen and vowed to continue diplomatic efforts.

"We hope that our Yemeni brothers, despite all their disagreements, will grasp the opportunity to talk to each other and stop the bloodshed," he said.

As Germany and Oman stepped up efforts for a cease-fire in Yemen, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrived in Berlin for talks on Yemen and Syria.