Saudi-Led Coalition Has No Permission to Inspect Yemen-Bound Ships: UN

"The Saudi-led coalition does not possess any international permission to stop or inspect the ships heading to Yemen," Yemen Press quoted Haq as saying.

The UN official had also told Turkey's Anadolu News Agency on Wednesday that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has not given any permission to the coalition forces allowing them to inspect the ships that carry humanitarian aid for the people of Yemen.

Haq's remarks seem to be coming in reaction to earlier claims by the Saudi military who said Saudi naval forces have the right to inspect a Yemen-bound Iranian ship loaded with 2500 tons of humanitarian aid for the war-hit people of the Arab country.

Saudi military spokesman Brigadier General Ahmad al-Assiri had claimed on Tuesday that it is Saudi Arabia's right to check the Iranian cargo.

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham on Wednesday stressed that Tehran will not allow any country involved in Yemen conflict to inspect the Iranian cargo ship.

"The countries involved in Yemen war will not be permitted to inspect the ship carrying the Islamic Republic of Iran's humanitarian aid," Afkham said in a reference to "Nejat" (Rescue) ship that is heading to Yemeni port of Hodeida.

Nejat is sailing in the international waters south of Iran to deliver the consignment of foodstuff and medicine to Yemenis, who are under a siege imposed by a Saudi-led coalition.

The ship's journey came after Yemen agreed to a five-day truce proposed by Saudi Arabia.

The ceasefire, which is to allow humanitarian aid in, came into force at 11 pm (8 pm GMT) on Tuesday.

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.

Some seven weeks of deadly aerial attacks on Yemen have killed over 3,500 people and left some 6,200 others injured.