Martin Griffiths’ s visit is part of efforts to bring together greater diplomatic, regional and international support for a negotiated political solution to the Yemen war.
Martin Griffiths, the United Nations Ambassador to Yemen, has visited Iran for the first time amid renewed efforts to end a protracted war that has caused the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.
During his two-day visit that began Sunday, the UN ambassador plans to meet with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and other Iranian officials.
“Griffiths will consult with Iranian officials on ways to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people,” Iran’s state news agency IRNA said.
The visit comes days after U.S. President Joe Biden ended U.S. support for offensive operations in Yemen with an armed campaign led by Saudi Arabia, a regional rival in Iran.
The move was welcomed by many Yemenis and aid groups who hope the policy change could contribute to the move for peace talks, as well as Iran, which he called a “step forward to correct past mistakes.
Asked if the US decision would provide an opportunity to end the Yemeni war, Zarif told CNN: “I hope it does… it’s better for the United States to show some intense love for the their relatives and tell them to stop this temptation. “They will never win in Yemen.”
Yemen has been raging by a devastating power struggle since late 2014 when the Houthi rebels seized large oaths of the country, including the capital, Sanaa. The conflict escalated in March 2015 when Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates rallied a U.S.-backed armed coalition in an attempt to overthrow the internationally known government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi back.
What Saudi leaders thought would be a swift military intervention has turned into a long and ruined conflict that caused the spread of disease, wreaked havoc on the poor country’s infrastructure and left it surrounded. 80 per cent of the population need help.
Both sides have defied allegations of war crimes during the fighting that killed tens of thousands of people.
Saudi Arabia has long been accused of suspected Houthis of military support. Iran denies the allegations, saying it will only support the rebels diplomatically and politically.
Griffiths’ visit is part of diplomatic efforts to support a negotiated political solution to the conflict that will meet the aspirations of the Yemeni people, his office said in a statement.
“The first priority of the special ambassador is to support an agreement between the parties in the conflict over a nationwide ceasefire, emergency humanitarian measures and the resumption of the political process,” he said.
Griffiths spokesman Ismini Palla said the trip was planned long before Biden was announced, and that it will come at a time when the ambassador is trying to bring together more diplomatic, regional and international support to help his efforts to end the war.
Reversing one of the last resolutions of US President Donald Trump, Washington also said Friday that he intended to reinstate “terrorist” designation for the Houthis in response to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.