Local Editor

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Sheikh Ahmed conferred on the latest developments in Yemen and the ongoing efforts to resolve the crisis in the country on Friday.

During Friday’s phone conversation, the two sides exchanged views on the UN plan for the establishment of a ceasefire in Yemen in addition to the measures to start political dialogue among Yemeni groups.

Amir-Abdollahian underlined the necessity for an immediate end to the foreign military aggression against Yemen and to the ongoing siege on the country.

He said that the foreign military aggression has destroyed infrastructures in Yemen and resulted in the death of innocent people.

He also lauded the constructive efforts made by the UN secretary general and his envoy to Yemen, and asked for more active contribution of the UN to restore peace in war-torn Yemen.

Amir-Abdollahian further said that Iran is in constant consultations with the UN chief representative and supports any efforts for successful and real talks, and a fair result.

For his part, Sheikh Ahmed appreciated Iran’s efforts to help find a way out of the Yemeni crisis.

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

According to UN records recently last week, the death toll of civilians has risen to at least 1,916, with another 4,186 civilians wounded since the escalation of the conflict in Yemen in March.

The aggression began in an attempt to restore power to Yemen’s fugitive former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who is a close ally of Saudi Arabia, and to undermine Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah movement which is currently responding to the attacks on the country.