Griffiths Meets Yemen Legitimate Govt. to Receive Approval on Draft ‘Joint Declaration’

Yemen’s caretaker foreign minister meets Griffiths on Sunday. (Saba news agency)
Yemen’s caretaker foreign minister meets Griffiths on Sunday. (Saba news agency)
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Griffiths Meets Yemen Legitimate Govt. to Receive Approval on Draft ‘Joint Declaration’

Yemen’s caretaker foreign minister meets Griffiths on Sunday. (Saba news agency)
Yemen’s caretaker foreign minister meets Griffiths on Sunday. (Saba news agency)

United Nations envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths met on Saturday and Sunday with officials from the legitimate government to receive their approval on his final draft to the “joint declaration.”

The officials informed him that they are committed to the three references, which they say are necessary to achieve any progress in UN-sponsored peace with the Iran-backed Houthi militias.

The officials also expressed the government’s clear disappointment with the UN and international community’s lenient approach with the Houthis that have recently escalated their attacks in the Marib province. Such actions demonstrate that the militias are reluctant to embrace peace or de-escalate the situation.

Despite the ongoing pressure by Griffiths on leaders of the legitimacy, the government still has major reservations over several points in the draft joint declaration, Yemeni sources told Asharq Al-Awsat. The declaration calls for a comprehensive ceasefire, kicking off humanitarian and economic measures and a return to negotiations to reach comprehensive peace.

Parliament Speaker Sultan al-Burkani stressed during a meeting with Griffiths the need for the UN and its envoy to take “serious steps towards achieving just and comprehensive peace based on the three references.” The references are the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative and its executive mechanism, the outcomes of the national dialogue and UN Security Council resolutions, especially resolution 2216.

The speaker told the envoy that the situation in Yemen “can no longer tolerate more leniency towards the Houthis or silence from the UN and international community.”

“Peace efforts are being confronted by Houthi intransigence and their widescale war in Marib and al-Jawf,” he remarked.

For his part, Griffiths said efforts were underway with all parties to complete the joint declaration in coming days, revealed official Yemeni sources.

The envoy met on Sunday with caretaker Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Hadrami, who condemned the Houthis’ ongoing military escalation in Marif and al-Jawf and their firing of ballistic missiles at residential areas.

Moreover, he said the militias were taking advantage of the ceasefire agreement in the Hodeidah province to recruit more children to their ranks and send them to the battlefronts in Marib and al-Jawf.

Official sources quoted him as informing Griffiths that the Hodeidah agreement was “futile”. He also urged the Security Council to assume its responsibilities and condemn the Houthi escalation, especially in al-Marib that is home to more than 3 million people.



Barrack Says Hezbollah Involvement in Iran-Israel War Would Be 'Very Bad Decision'

A handout photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office on June 19, 2025 shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (R) welcoming US negotiator Thomas Barrack at the presidential palace of Baabda east of Beirut. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)
A handout photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office on June 19, 2025 shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (R) welcoming US negotiator Thomas Barrack at the presidential palace of Baabda east of Beirut. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)
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Barrack Says Hezbollah Involvement in Iran-Israel War Would Be 'Very Bad Decision'

A handout photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office on June 19, 2025 shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (R) welcoming US negotiator Thomas Barrack at the presidential palace of Baabda east of Beirut. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)
A handout photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office on June 19, 2025 shows Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun (R) welcoming US negotiator Thomas Barrack at the presidential palace of Baabda east of Beirut. (Photo by Lebanese Presidency / AFP)

The US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack on Thursday warned Hezbollah against getting involved in the war between its main backer Iran and Israel.

"I can say on behalf of President (Donald) Trump... that would be a very, very, very bad decision," Barrack said, responding to a question on what the US position would be on any involvement by Hezbollah in the war.

Barrack met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at Baabda Palace and Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh.

Hezbollah has condemned Israel's strikes on Iran and expressed full solidarity with its leadership.

Hezbollah on Thursday expressed support for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei following threats by Israeli leaders that he could be killed.

In a statement, Hezbollah said that “threats to assassinate (Khamenei) are foolish and reckless, and will have disastrous consequences.”

But the group has stopped short of making explicit threats to intervene.

Israel's defense minister said Thursday that Khamenei "can no longer be allowed to exist" after an Israeli hospital was hit during an Iranian missile attack.

"Khamenei openly declares that he wants Israel destroyed -- he personally gives the order to fire on hospitals. He considers the destruction of the state of Israel to be a goal," Israel Katz told journalists in Holon near Tel Aviv. "Such a man can no longer be allowed to exist."

Killing Khamenei would "end the conflict" between Israel and Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said.