Intense diplomatic efforts have been underway in the Saudi capital Riyadh to launch a comprehensive UN-sponsored political process in Yemen.
Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi received US envoy to Yemen Tim Lenderking and Washington’s ambassador to Yemen Steven Fagin.
Lenderking briefed the Yemeni leadership on the diplomatic efforts underway to ease tensions in Yemen and launch the political process.
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Fagin said the Riyadh meeting was “productive”, revealing that it focused on the economy and limiting the escalation by the Iran-backed Houthi militias.
The terrorist Houthis continue to undermine regional security and peace, he stated.
For his part, Alimi underlined the legitimate Yemeni government’s commitment to just peace in line with the national, regional and international references, especially UN Security Council resolution 2216.
The meeting tackled the “urgency of stopping Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, preventing Iranian weapons from reaching the Houthis, and advancing diplomatic efforts to find a durable end to the conflict in Yemen,” said the US State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs on the X platform.
Lenderking briefed Alimi on the potential regional and international changes in wake of the results of the US presidential election and the options to push the terrorist Houthis to positively deal with UN efforts to launch the political process, reported Yemen’s Saba news agency.
They also tackled bilateral relations between Yemen and the US and ways to bolster them in all fields, as well as American support for the Yemeni economy.
Alimi underscored the need to intensify international efforts to implement the Security Council resolution on the embargo of sending Iranian arms to the Houthis.
Fagin also held a meeting with Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al-Jaber, who described the talks as “productive”.
The officials reviewed the developments in Yemen and the Red Sea and joint efforts to support the legitimate government and brotherly Yemeni people, Jaber added.
They also tackled means to support the UN envoy’s efforts to maintain calm and reach a comprehensive political solution, he went on to say.