Iran denies embassy in Yemen is closing

Iranian officials have issued conflicting statements to justify the sudden departure of Tehran’s ambassador to Sanaa and his deputy on Monday last week, in a step that has fuelled speculation that the Islamic Republic will close its embassy in Yemen.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian denied claims that Tehran is considering closing of its embassy in Sanaa, saying the Iranian ambassador returned to Tehran for several days for treatment.

Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported Abdollahian as saying yesterday that the Iranian ambassador and members of the embassy left Sanaa, but the Iranian embassy will continue its activities as usual.

Abdollahian’s statement contradicted that of the Foreign Ministry. Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham had earlier said that Ambassador Hossein Niknam had returned to Tehran for his annual vacation.

Many observers believe the move represents “a pre-emptive step” by Iran following reports that Yemen’s exiled government is seriously considering severing diplomatic ties with Tehran.

The move comes as ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s family left Yemen while his relatives left the UAE, Lebanon and Egypt where they have been residing.

Many observers believe that Saleh “is also looking for an opportunity for a safe exit from Yemen, so he does not meet the fate of the late Libyan Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.”

Yemen’s Foreign Minister Riad Yassin accused the Iranian embassy of turning into a “military operations room for the Houthis”.

Yassin said in a statement that the Iranian embassy provides financial and intelligence support and military advice to the Houthis.

Observers believe the coming period will witness the end of the Houthis’ control of Sanaa after they recently accepted the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2216.

United Nations Special Representative Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said the Houthis will begin consultations with President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi’s government next week to develop an implementation mechanism for the UN resolution.