Iranian plan in Yemen

By Vestnik Kavkaza

An international conference on a settlement of the situation in Yemen is to take place in Geneva. However, the negotiations under the aegis of the UN, aimed at establishing peace in the country, have been postponed indefinitely. In respect of this fact, the position of Tehran is pretty uncompromising, as Tehran believes that the countries that imposed a war on Yemen should not take part in the political settlement of the conflict, and they should be punished for the human and financial damage caused to the people of Yemen.

Hossein Amir Abdollahiyan, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, said that Tehran and Moscow have mutual and similar positions on the situation in Yemen: ‘‘We believe the Saudi aggression against the defenseless people of Yemen is a strategic mistake.’’ This aggression exceeded the limits of international law and it has led to unpleasant consequences for the region and for the people of Yemen. 

According to Abdollahiyan, ‘‘Some foreign intelligence services in Yemen use this aggression in order to support the activation of terrorist groups. In the first weeks of Saudi Arabia’s aggression against Yemen, the Minister Foreign of Foreign Affairs of Iran proposed a plan that consisted of four articles in order to settle the Yemeni crisis.’’

The first point of the plan is the immediate cessation of military intervention in the internal affairs of the country.

The second point of the Iranian political plan is departure of humanitarian aid for the whole of Yemen. Iran pays attention to the role of the UN in order to solve this issue, as Saudi Arabia’s aircraft attacked some of the caravans which were sent in order to deliver humanitarian aid to Yemen.   

The third point is focusing on a national dialogue among all influential Yemeni groups.

The fourth point is formation of an inclusive national government in Yemen, involving all groups and organizations in Yemen.

According to the words of the Iranian diplomat, Tehran believes that Saudi Arabia’s aggression is a strategic mistake: ‘‘The Saudis have preferred a military solution to the issue. We have good experience in approaching of positions in respect of cooperation between Iran and Russia on the settlement in Syria and Iraq. Coordination of positions between Tehran and Moscow has led to the fact that we have prevented the overthrow of the official authorities in Syria and replacement of the political system in Syria. Tehran and Moscow are fighting terrorism, as well as they will assist the people of Iraq in their fight against ISIS.

The Islamic Republic of Iran drew the attention of the world community to relations with the Arab countries, including the Arab countries in the Persian Gulf: ‘‘We do not believe that the outbreak of war on the initiative of Saudi Arabia against a Muslim country will lead to receiving some benefit for Saudi Arabia, or bring security to Saudi Arabia and the region in general. We believe that Saudi Arabia’s potential should be used in a constructive process in order to provide assistance for the establishment of peace and safety in the region of the Middle East,’’ Hossein Abdollahiyan says.