Iran not committed to any country or party on Yemen: Qasemi

Tehran– Iran has given no commitments to any party or country over Yemen, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

Bahram Qasemi made the remarks while commenting on recent remarks by the UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt who claimed that during meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif he had discussed the situation in Yemen with the latter offering him some promises on the issue, IRNA reported.

The three-year aggression on Yemen, which has resulted in killing of innocent people and the human disaster in the country, has always been on Iran’s agenda during diplomatic negotiations, he said.

He further noted that in his diplomatic meetings with foreign counterparts, Zarif has always focused on finding solutions to reduce crisis in Yemen, to pave the way for putting an end to aggression, to establish permanent truce there and also to prepare the ground for sending humanitarian aids to famine-stricken Yemenis, Qasemi said.

He added that various meetings were held last year between Iran and some European countries including France, Germany, UK and Italy who were interested in Yemen issue.

Finally, thanks to Iran’s efforts, he noted, grounds have been prepared for holding Stockholm meeting and UN-brokered intra-Yemeni talks.

He went on to say that as a Muslim country which is sensitive to Yemenis’ fate, Iran has been concerned about the country and has reiterated that war would not lead in military triumph.

Qasemi said, Tehran believes in establishment of a ceasefire in Yemen and is trying to pave the way for sending humanitarian aids there and holding Yemeni-Yemeni talks.

Naturally and as mentioned by Jeremy Hunt, some negotiations were held over Yemen during his recent visit to Iran, he said, adding that the issue raised by Hunt is related to this trip.

Underlining the fact that Iran has given no commitment to any country on Yemen, Qasemi said Yemen is an independent country and only Yemenis will decide on their country.

Iran will have no intervention in Yemen, Iranian spokesman said adding that Hunt meant those commitments which had been gained by Yemeni parties to establish truce.

Islamic Republic of Iran will spare no efforts in line with finding peaceful solution to Yemeni crisis and preventing continuation of humanitarian disaster in this country, Qasemi reiterated.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he urged the international community to make efforts to find a solution to this disaster as a dark point in this era and save Yemenis from this difficult situation.

Qasemi called on European states to stop selling and sending destructive arms to aggressors.

He further urged the international community to work to stop the brutal aggression against Yemeni people.

Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched a devastating military campaign against Yemen in March 2015, with the aim of bringing back the government of Mansour Hadi back to power.

Some 20,000 Yemenis have been killed and thousands more injured since the onset of the Saudi-led aggression.

The assaults of the Saudi-led coalition forces have failed to stop the Yemenis from resisting the aggression.

M.Wassouf