Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al-Jaber has affirmed that Riyadh is exerting mediation efforts among Yemeni factions, including the Houthis.
Warring parties in Yemen are “serious” about ending a devastating eight-year-old conflict but it is impossible to predict when talks between Yemenis, much less a breakthrough, might happen, the envoy told AFP.
“Everybody is serious. Serious means everybody is looking for peace,” Al-Jaber said, adding that “it’s not easy to be clear about the next steps.”
“Nothing is clear, but I’m optimistic, and we hope - God willing - Yemenis can find a way as soon as possible.”
On his way back from Aden to Riyadh, Jaber said: “Because of Saudi Arabia’s relationship with all Yemenis, including the Houthis, we used our leverage to convince all Yemenis to sit at the table and discuss those issues.”
“In the end, it’s about Yemenis,” he added, though he also noted the two sides currently “refuse to sit together.”
Chairman of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Dr. Rashad al-Alimi said in a televised interview with TV channels Al Arabiya and AlHadath that the Council hails Saudi Arabia's mediation efforts to end the war, establish peace, and reach a comprehensive political solution based on agreed-upon international, regional, and local references.
“We are in favor of these efforts, we support them since early time,” he said, adding that the militias have always refused the peace process and continue until this moment to threaten to return to war, and to mobilize militants.
Alimi commented on the inauguration of Saudi-funded projects in Yemen, saying this is a message to the Iranian regime, which is backing the Houthis, that the Saudi-led Arab Coalition is supporting health, roads, and all walks of life whether relief or development.
This is also a message to the Houthis and their supporters that “we want peace. We want more projects, development, and peace.”
Iran has continued supplying weapons and drugs that fuel the Yemen war despite its agreement to restore diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia, US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking said on Thursday.
"The Iranians have continued to smuggle weaponry and narcotics toward this conflict, and we are very concerned that this would continue despite the benefits that would come from a Saudi-Iran deal. So, I think that is a space we have to watch," Lenderking said.
Yemeni Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism Moammar al-Eryani accused Iran of supporting the terrorist Houthis through weapons and drug smuggling.
Eryani said in official statements that only two days before the US seizure of a fishing boat loaded with drugs that set sail from Iran's Chabahar Port, another ship loaded with drugs that set sail from the same port of Iran and destined for Yemen was seized.
He said the seizure of the vessels reveals that the Tehran regime continues to support Houthi militias with weapons and drug shipments in flagrant violation of international laws and conventions.
The Yemeni minister called for an international condemnation of Iran, saying, "the international community, the United Nations, and the permanent members of the UN Security Council must fulfill their legal responsibilities and condemn Iran's stance that undermines the efforts to achieve peace in Yemen."
