Iran Holds Yemen Accountable for Diplomat Abduction
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An Iranian deputy foreign minister underlined that the responsibility for the kidnapping of a country’s embassy staffer in Sana’a lies with the Yemeni government.
“The Yemeni government is responsible for the Iranian diplomat’s safety and his safe return to the country,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian said.
In July 2013, a group of armed men kidnapped Nour Ahmad Nikbakht, an Iranian embassy staffer, in Yemeni capital of Sana'a at gunpoint, and took him to an unknown location.
Amir Abdollahian also noted that the kidnapped staffer is in good health, adding that Tehran will pursue diplomatic efforts to secure his ultimate release, Press TV reported on Tuesday.
No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction and the relevant officials at the Iranian Foreign Ministry are working with Yemeni government to locate and release him.
In late January, a decapitated body was found in central Yemen which was believed to belong to Nikbakht. However, Tehran later denied reports that the body was the Iranian diplomat’s.
