Iran warns of plots against Muslim Unity

Iran’s Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani has warned against efforts to undermine unity and solidarity in the Muslim world, urging vigilance against such plots.

Larijani made the remarks in a Wednesday meeting with Yemeni Parliament Speaker Yahya Ali al-Raee, who was in Tehran to participate in a meeting of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (PUIC).

The PUIC kicked off its meetings on February 14 and was wrapped up with the 9th session of its conference on Wednesday. The union is composed of the parliaments of the OIC member states.

The Iranian parliament speaker pointed to the problems facing Muslims and underlined the necessity of continuous consultations and cooperation among Islamic states to address the existing crises in the region.

Larijani described Tehran-Sana’a relations as age-old and based on mutual interests.

“Yemen is an important country in the Muslim world and the Islamic Republic has enjoyed long-lasting ties with Yemen in line with mutual respect and interests,” Larijani said.

Al-Raee, for his part, described Iran as an important and powerful country in the world and the region, praising Iran’s initiative to host the PUIC meetings, which, he said, will help boost solidarity and unity among Muslim nations.

The Yemeni official further deplored the abduction of Iranian diplomat Nour Ahmad Nikbakht in Sana’a and said Yemen would do its best to secure the diplomat’s release.

Nikbakht was on his way to work from his home in the diplomatic quarter of Sana’a on July 21 when unidentified gunmen blocked the road, forced him out of his vehicle and abducted him.