Iran president rules out military approach to Yemen crisis

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says military approaches will fail to resolve the Yemeni crisis, stressing the importance of establishing stability and security in the war-ravaged country and across the Middle East through political channels.

In a telephone conversation with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on Monday, Rouhani warned that the recent unprecedented attacks by a Saudi-led military coalition and militia loyal to the former Yemeni government on the western province of Hudaydah would lead to a humanitarian crisis in the impoverished country.

“The continuation of these conflicts has put the poor Yemeni people under intolerable pressure and we are all duty-bound to help this oppressed nation,” the Iranian president pointed out.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates launched a major assault on June 13 to take Hudaydah, a densely-populated city and the war-torn country’s most vital port.

The Houthi movement, which is a significant aid to the Yemeni army in defending the country against the invading forces, has been running state affairs in the absence of an effective administration during the past three years.

The invasion of Hudaydah has already triggered fears of a fresh humanitarian crisis in a country where more than 22 million people are in need of aid, including 8.4 million who are at risk of starvation.

Yemen’s Navy and Coast Defense Command said on June 14 that it is “fully prepared” to destroy any invading warships belonging to the Saudi-led coalition with missiles.

In a statement carried by Yemen’s Arabic-language al-Masirah television network, the command further said that the country’s forces, including those of the Navy, would fulfill their national and religious duty to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen against the enemy.

The Iranian president further emphasized that the Islamic Republic’s policy is based on interaction and dialogue with regional countries with the purpose of putting an end to the conflicts and added that the establishment of stability and security across the region would be beneficial to all regional nations.

“We regard as incorrect the adventurous policies of certain regional countries and believe that the continuation of such a trend will undoubtedly increase the existing problems in the region, including in Palestine, Syria and Yemen,” Rouhani said.

Only dialogue can solve disputes: Qatari Emir

The Qatari Emir, for his part, said all regional conflicts can be solved only through dialogue and added that no country can impose its stance on others.

He added that his country would continue to support the Palestinian people and their resistance against the Israeli regime.