Russia to throw weight behind Iran's Yemen initiative at UN

Amid ongoing Saudi military aggression against Yemen, Russia says it will throw its weight behind Iran’s peace initiative, aimed at resolving the crisis in Yemen, at the United Nations.

Mikhail Bogdanov, the Middle East and North African adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, made the comments in a phone conversation with Deputy Iranian Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, IRNA reported on Saturday.

The Russian official said Moscow always supported different countries’ efforts towards ending Yemen’s crisis and would use its capacity at the UN to further Iran’s peace plan in this regard.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif submitted the four-point plan in a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Friday in an attempt to end the bloodshed in the impoverished country.

The four provisions stipulated in the plan comprise cessation of all foreign military attacks in Yemen, swift transference of humanitarian aides, resumption of national-Yemeni talks, and formation of a comprehensive unity government.

Bogdanov said Russia believed the UN had to play a more active role in the return of peace and security to Yemen.

Saudi Arabia started military aggression against Yemen on March 26, without a UN mandate, in a bid to restore power to fugitive former President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who is a close ally of Riyadh.

According to sources in the Yemeni army, around 2,600 people have been killed during the aggression.

The humanitarian situation in Yemen is rapidly deteriorating. Many international aid organizations have sought clearances to dispatch medical and other humanitarian supplies by air and sea to civilians in need.

Amir-Abdollahian said, “Iran expects Russia to continue its diplomatic efforts and consultations with different countries’ officials so that Saudi military attacks are swiftly stopped and Yemen’s naval embargo ends.”

The two officials addressed speedy transference of food, pharmaceutical, and medical aid to the people of Yemen, calling for an end to the deterioration of humanitarian situation in the country.

They also laid emphasis on common standpoints regarding the condemnation of military action in the region and the need to focus upon a political solution for Yemen.

In a phone call with President of the Red Cross Peter Maurer, Amir-Abdollahian also urged the International Committee of the Red Cross to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen by creating safe routes for transference of aide for the defenseless people, who have suffered damage from military action by foreign forces. 

HN/NT/AS

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