Saudi Peace Plan Only Perpetuates War: Iran’s Envoy to Yemen
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Iran's ambassador to Yemeni capital, Sana'a has slammed Saudi Arabia's so-called peace initiative, saying it will only prolong military aggression, occupation, and war crimes in the country.
“The Saudi initiative for Yemen is a permanent war project; it will maintain occupation and war crimes there, and it will not bring an end to the war,” Hassan Irlu wrote in a tweet early Wednesday.
“A true initiative,” he continued, “means that the war is over, the blockade is lifted, the occupation is ended, Saudi military forces are withdrawn, mercenaries and Takfiris are no longer funded by large amounts of money and arms, and Yemeni political dialogue is conducted without foreign interference.”
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud proposed a "peace plan" to end the war in Yemen on Monday, which would include reopening Sana'a airport and allowing fuel and food imports via Hudaydah port, both of which are controlled by the Ansarullah.
The top Saudi diplomat said at a news conference that the political talks between members of Yemen's former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi's Saudi-backed government and Ansarullah would resume as part of the initiative.
Al Saud said the initiative would be enforced once the Yemeni sides accepted it.
Reacting to the proposal, Mohammed Abdul-Salam, the spokesman for Ansarullah, said afterwards that it offered “nothing new,” and did not meet the movement's demand for a complete lifting of the blockade on Sana’a airport and Hodeidah port.
“We expected that Saudi Arabia would announce an end to the blockade of ports and airports and an initiative to allow in 14 ships that are held by the coalition,” he said.
A “humanitarian right” should not be used as a pressure tool, Abdul-Salam pointed out.
