A senior Iranian official has called on the Yemeni authorities to take more action to secure rapid release of an Iranian diplomat abducted in the Arab country last July.
Irans Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian held talks with Yemens Minister of Foreign Affairs Abu Bakr Abdullah al-Qirbi on Tuesday about the latest measures taken to free Nour Ahmad Nikbakht - the Iranian diplomat who was abducted in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.
Nikbakht was on his way to work from his home in the diplomatic quarter of Sanaa on July 21, 2013, when unidentified gunmen blocked the road, forced him out of his vehicle and abducted him.
In late January, a decapitated body was found in central Yemen which was believed to belong to Nikbakht. However, Tehran denied reports that the beheaded body was the Iranian diplomats.
Amir-Abdollahian also stated that Iran-Yemen ties have always been based on deep-rooted historical and cultural bonds, adding the two countries have great capacities to improve relations.
The Yemeni minister, for his part, said the abducted Iranian diplomat is in good health and expressed hope that he would be freed as soon as possible.
Qirbi added that his country's officials attach high importance to the expansion of amicable ties with Iran which would be beneficial to stability and security of Yemen and the entire region.