Iran Calls on UN to Play Effective Role to End Yemen Crisis

In his Tuesday phone call with Ban Ki-moon, Zarif referred to the crimes committed against Yemenis as “genocide”, saying that the crimes are in clear violation of international law and the UN should play its role in stopping them.

Crimes committed by the Saudi regime against the people of Yemen have resulted in the rise of extremist and terrorist groups in the Arab country and also further exacerbated the humanitarian catastrophe there, the Iranian minister stressed.

Zarif expressed the hope that efforts made by the secretary general and the international community would lead to immediate cessation of attacks against the people of Yemen.

“Tehran supports the efforts made by the new UN envoy to Yemen to stop the (Saudi) aggression, to send humanitarian aid, and to establish intra-Yemeni dialog,” he added.

He further noted that the solution to the crisis in Yemen is solely political and can be reached through forming an inclusive government with the participation of all political forces, without the interference of certain foreign countries.

"(The crisis) does not have a military solution and militarizing the crisis is to the benefit of no side (in the conflict),” Zarif asserted.

Ban, for his part, appreciated Iran’s efforts to send humanitarian aid to Yemeni people. He also reiterated that political solution is the only way out of the crisis.

“Peace and security in the region is achieved by resorting to political solution, and the UN will continue its efforts in this regard,” the UN chief told Zarif.

On March 26, Saudi Arabia and some of its Arab allies began to launch deadly air strikes against the Houthi Ansarullah movement in an attempt to restore power to the fugitive former President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, a close ally of Riyadh.

Earlier on Thursday, Saudi Arabia announced a five-day 'humanitarian' ceasefire, to which Ansarullah movement and the Yemeni army consented. The ceasefire was started on Tuesday.