29 Mar 2024
Tuesday 16 June 2015 - 14:35
Story Code : 167994

Iran sends official to Riyadh for Yemen talks

The Iranian deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs has arrived in Saudi Arabia to take part in high-level talks attended by senior officials from Muslim countries on the ongoing conflict in Yemen.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrived in the capitalRiyadh on Monday to attend a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the Yemen issue, AFP reported.

The extraordinarymeeting, which is to be held on Tuesday in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, is based on a request by the deposed government of Yemen, the OIC said in a statement, adding that the gathering has the backing of the majority of its member states.

Amir-Abdollahians visit to Riyadh is the first such high-level trip by an Iranian official since Saudi Arabia started its aggression against Yemen almost three months ago. The attacks, which have been mostly in the form of deadly airstrikes targeting population centers and sensitive infrastructureacross Yemen, has claimed more than 2,300 lives, according to the UN. However, Yemeni sources have put the death toll at at least 4,300.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"] Yemenis search for survivors under the rubble of houses in the UNESCO-listed heritage site in the old city of Yemeni capital Sanaa, on June 12, 2015 following an overnight Saudi air strike. (AFP Photo)[/caption]

Iran and Saudi Arabia have been at odds over some regional issues, including those of Lebanon, Bahrain and Iraq. Tehran has repeatedly called for negotiations on major regional developments.

In his recent remarks on Yemen, Amir-Abdollahian said Iran standsready to engage in dialog and cooperation with its neighbors and friends in the Middle Easton regional security, stability and sustainable development.

The seasoned Iranian diplomat said Thursday that such talks could also have Saudi Arabia as a major partner.

The regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, can play a pivotal role in assisting peace, stability and security in the region, he said.

The OIC meeting will come just one day after Yemens political factions gather in Geneva for talks under the auspices of the United Nations. The talks in the Swiss city aim to secure a ceasefire, and accelerate the delivery of humanitarian aid to war-strickenYemeni people.

By Press TV
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