The foreign ministry dismissed the recent remarks by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir against Iran as "repetitive" and "worthless".
"Such remarks are meant to divert attention from the realities on the ground and are based on a series of repetitive and worthless analyses," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Marzieh Afkham was quoted by IRNA as saying on Friday, adding, "Like other independent nations, the Yemeni people will not allow any other country to interfere in their internal affairs at any price."
Her remarks came after Jubeir once again accused Iran of meddling in Yemen's internal affairs and shipment of arms to the war-ravaged country in a joint news conference with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Riyadh on Thursday.
"We have always maintained that Iran should have no role in Yemen. The last time I checked, Iran didn't have a border with Yemen. And so the Iranian role in Yemen has been a negative one," Jubeir said, claiming, "They have supported the Houthis financially, ideologically, as well as with weapons, and this is not helpful." He stressed, "I do not think that Iran's role in Yemen is a helpful one," according to the website of the US Department of State.
Afkham said, "The Saudi official accuses Iran of meddling in Yemen, while Saudi Arabia and its allies have been targeting Yemen with their relentless assaults since over 40 days ago to advance their interests."
"Yemen has been taken hostage by a land, air and sea blockade."
Highlighting the tragic humanitarian situation in the impoverished Arab country, she said, "Iran considers it essential to put an immediate end to the blockade against Yemen and immediately send humanitarian aid to contain the human catastrophe in the Muslim country."
Afkham underlined diplomacy as the only "logical" and "lasting" solution to the crisis raging in Yemen, saying, "Holding dialogue is the best way to bring the crisis to an end and achieve a logical and lasting solution."
"Halting the military operation and resuming Yemeni talks to form an inclusive government are regarded as urgent and critical steps on the path to a diplomatic solution."
The relations between Tehran and Riyadh became tense following the emergence of a civil war in Yemen, in which the two Muslim countries support opposing sides.
The Arab kingdom offered a five-day humanitarian truce on Thursday, which would take effect if the Houthis agreed to stop fighting.
Kerry said at the press conference that the so-called "humanitarian pause" would not start for several days, enough time for diplomatic efforts to convince the Houthis to accept the terms of the deal. He said aid organizations also needed time to coordinate the best strategy for getting food, fuel and medicine into and around Yemen, the Associated Press reported.
