Saudi Arabia slams Iran over Houthi negotiation claims

Saudi Arabia has denied that it requested Iran to facilitate negotiations with the Houthi armed group in Yemen, Arab News reported.

Omar Ahmed Nugali, media director at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs refuted the claim that the Kingdom requested assistance from Iran.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, chief adviser to the speaker in the Iranian parliament, last week said Saudi Arabia is “asking for [Iran’s] support to open dialogue with the [Houthis]”.

The request is “baseless and unfounded”, said Nugali.

Read: Saudi Arabia should stop backing terrorists in Yemen says Iran

Since March 2015, Saudi Arabia entered the Yemen war to neutralise military advancements from the Houthi group emanating from the north of Yemen. A number of ballistic missiles have been fired in to the Kingdom by the Houthis since then.

Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of supporting and arming the Houthis, fuelling a sectarian war in Yemen.