Iran Dismisses Yemeni President’s Interference Claims

Yemen's President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, in the recent comments published in pan-Arab daily Al Hayat newspaper, alleged that Iran is meddling in the Arab country’s internal affairs.

"Unfortunately, Iranian interference still exists, whether through its support for the Hirak separatists or some religious groups in northern Yemen," Hadi told Al Hayat.

In reply, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham on Tuesday strongly dismissed the allegations, terming them “unsubstantiated” claims.

“Every so often, the unfounded and baseless statements with such (anti-Iran) contents are made, while such claims are very clearly incorrect,” the spokeswoman argued.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has always been a well-wisher of Yemen and its people, and has supported unity, stability and solidarity in that country,” she explained.

Afkham noted that the Yemeni president has made such anti-Iran claims while a series of acts of interference by certain regional countries are now in progress in Yemen, which undermine the Arab country’s security and are detrimental to its interests.

“We believe that the settlement of Yemen’s problems are possible only through dialog and in a political process to cope with the legitimate demands of that country’s people and through the partnership and participation of the whole groups, parties and political streams in that country, without foreign intervention,” she pointed out.