Afət Ziyadqızı
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in an official statement that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a phone call with his Saudi Arabian counterpart. They discussed recent military and political tensions surrounding Yemen and the wider region.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Araghchi said efforts to resolve the confrontation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis by military means could deepen the regional crisis, and proposed political dialogue. The Iranian minister said Tehran was ready to provide mediation and comprehensive assistance to help resolve the crisis and restart talks between the sides.
The diplomatic contact comes at a sensitive time, as concerns grow over repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and the safety of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. On Oct. 10, a missile strike on King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, killed 13 people and injured hundreds of civilians.
The Arab Coalition, which supports Yemen’s government, blamed the attack on the Iran-backed Houthi group and said it would respond decisively to the terrorist act.
The Houthis, who receive support from Iran, have controlled Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and several strategic areas of the country since September 2014. Coalition forces led by Saudi Arabia have conducted military operations in Yemen since March 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government.
