Special diplomat to Yemen meets Iranian foreign minister in Tehran

The United Nations special envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, met Iranian foreign minister Mohammed Zarif in Tehran yesterday, a day after talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Abu Dhabi.

The UN mediator is looking to achieve a political solution to the nearly three-year war after peace talks in Kuwait broke down last year.

After their meeting, Mr Zarif and Mr Cheikh Ahmed said they agreed that military action would not resolve the situation or achieve peace in Yemen. Mr Cheikh Ahmed announced Iran’s support for UN efforts to find a solution to the crisis but said the foreign minister stressed that the concerns of both sides had to be addressed.

Forces loyal to the government of Yemeni president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi – backed by a Saudi-led coalition that includes the UAE – are battling Iran-linked Houthi rebels for full control of the country.

The Shiite rebels still hold the capital along with other areas. Extremists, including local Al Qaeda and ISIL affiliates, have taken advantage of the chaotic situation to expand their reach.

Mr Cheikh Ahmed said a military solution to the war had no chance of success and that the conflict, which has now developed into a humanitarian crisis, will only be resolved through dialogue.

But the Houthis have not welcomed Mr Cheikh Ahmed’s efforts, accusing him of having a bias towards the Saudi-led coalition.

Tehran was the fourth stop on a diplomacy tour by the UN envoy, who visited Yemen and Oman before going to the UAE.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, told Mr Cheikh Ahmed on Sunday that the UAE supports a political settlement in Yemen, the state news agency Wam said.

The UAE has been involved in the war in Yemen since March 2015.

Its Foreign Ministry expressed concern at the humanitarian situation in Yemen, particularly a cholera outbreak that risks infecting millions.

Yesterday, the World Health Organisation announced that cholera cases in the country had reached half a million, while about 2,000 people had died since the disease began spreading in April.

As part of efforts to relieve Yemen’s humanitarian crisis, the Emirates Red Crescent on Sunday distributed aid to underprivileged families, orphans and widows in Hadramawt province’s Mukalla district in the south-east of the country.

Ahmed Al Neyadi, deputy head of the charity’s team in Hadramawt, said the latest food assistance reflected the desire of the leadership and people to help Yemenis overcome the economic difficulties their country was facing.

“The assistance seeks to fill the food gap caused by the difficult economic and humanitarian conditions, which have increased poverty and unemployment among the Yemeni people,” he said.

“We will continue our efforts to improve the living conditions of the underprivileged through vital services and humanitarian projects.”

The ERC also distributed emergency food aid to underprivileged families in neighbouring Shabwa province yesterday.

The Armed Forces confirmed on Friday that four soldiers had died in Yemen after their helicopter experienced a technical fault.

Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, grandson of the Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed, and two other soldiers were also hurt in the incident.

Tehran was the fourth stop on a diplomatic tour by the UN envoy, who visited Yemen and Oman before going to the UAE