Saudi Arabia Not Serious about Ceasefire in Yemen: Iranian Diplomat


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Saudi Arabia is now toying with the issue of ceasefire in Yemen, an Iranian deputy foreign minister said, and asked all sides to help end the crisis in the Arab state.

The issue was raised by Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian on Tuesday.

“Saudi Arabia played with fire by making a strategic mistake in the attack on Yemen,” he said, and warned against the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Yemen.

Although Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday that there would be a five-day halt in the military aggression against Yemen from late on Sunday, aerial bombardment of the war-stricken country continued unabated. Riyadh has already violated several ceasefires in Yemen.

The Iranian diplomat further urged everybody to help the Yemeni people and also the United Nations in “ending the aggression and lifting the humanitarian blockade” in the country.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister also stressed the need for the political settlement of the crisis in Yemen.