Iran says it supports ceasefire in Yemen

Iran said yesterday that it supports any peace plan in Yemen that declares a nationwide ceasefire, a day after Saudi Arabia offered to end nearly six years of war in the Arab country.

“Since the beginning of this war, the Islamic Republic of Iran has emphasised that the Yemen crisis has no military solution,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“Iran supports all kinds of peace initiatives that will end the occupation, pave the way for the lifting of the economic blockade, initiate political negotiations and enable the transfer of power to Yemeni people without foreign intervention.”

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan suggested a UN-supervised ceasefire between Yemen’s Saudi-backed government and Iran-backed Houthi, the reopening of Sanaa International Airport, and the start of political negotiations.

READ: Iranian envoy says Saudi peace plan prolongs war and occupation

Yemen has been ravaged by violence and instability since 2014, when Houthis captured much of the country, including the capital Sanaa.

A Saudi-led coalition aimed at reinstating the Yemeni government worsened the situation, causing one of the world’s worst man-made humanitarian crises with 30 million people – 80 per cent of the population – needing humanitarian assistance and protection.