The deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs repeated a call for sending humanitarian assistance to the Yemeni civilians who are suffering damage and losses due to a raging armed conflict gripping the impoverished Arab country and Saudi-led airstrikes meant to stop the advance of Houthi fighters.
Hossein Amir Abdollahian made the appeal in a phone conversation with President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer, in which the two officials discussed the situation in Yemen, IRNA reported on Sunday.
Criticizing Saudi officials for their obstructive moves to blocking the way to sending assistance to the crisis-hit country, Amir Abdollahian urged the ICRC to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe from happening in Yemen by creating safe routes for transferring aid to the defenseless Yemeni people, who are faced with hardships resulting from foreign military attacks. Maurer, for his part, praised Iran for being concerned about sending aid to Yemen and said the ICRC has tried to convince Saudi officials to cooperate with the supply of medicine and food to Yemen; however, "the efforts have yielded no results so far."
Underlining the urgent need of the Yemeni people for medicine, he said the ICRC will continue its efforts until they produce "the desired results".
Four-Point Plan
The deputy minister also called on his Russian counterpart Mikhail Bogdanov to look into a four-point peace plan proposed by the Islamic Republic to resolve the crisis in Yemen.
The four provisions, as stipulated in the plan, include a halt to foreign military attacks on Yemen, provision of humanitarian assistance, establishment of intra-Yemeni dialogue, and formation of a broad-based government.
"Iran expects Russia to continue its diplomatic efforts and consultations with officials of different countries to help put an immediate end to Saudi military attacks and lift Yemen's naval blockade," Amir Abdollahian said.
For his part, Bogdanov, who is also an adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Middle East and North Africa affairs welcomed Iran's political initiative to end the Yemeni crisis.
"Fortunately, Iran and Russia have common views on the Yemen issue, both stressing a political solution, the necessity of sending humanitarian aid, and increased regional and international diplomatic consultations to help stop the attacks," he noted.
Moscow will use its influence in the United Nations to back Iran's plan, he said, adding, "Russia believes the UN needs to play a more active role to help bring peace and stability to Yemen."
The two officials emphasized the need to focus on a political solution for Yemen.
