No military solution to Yemen conflict, Iran FM says

Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, asserted on Saturday that a military resolution is not viable for the escalating conflict in Yemen, nor for other regional issues like the Bab al-Mandab Strait. He advocated for dialogue as the path forward.

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We believe that there is no military solution to the issue of Yemen, Bab al-Mandab, and other regional issues

"We believe that there is no military solution to the issue of Yemen, Bab al-Mandab, and other regional issues," Araghchi stated in an interview published by the state-run Iran Daily newspaper. He emphasized that the situation in Yemen "cannot be attributed to Iran." Instead, he argued that the incidents in the Bab al-Mandab Strait stem from "old disputes and issues between Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the countries of the region."

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cannot be attributed to Iran

The comments come as renewed conflict between the Houthi rebels, who are backed by Tehran, and Saudi Arabia flared up this month. This escalation followed a UN-negotiated truce in 2022. The Houthis declared a blockade of Saudi ports and claimed attacks on tankers, actions that have impacted Saudi Arabia's supply routes. This situation is further complicated by Iran's parallel blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia's only other maritime passage.

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rooted in old disputes and issues between Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the countries of the region

On Friday, a Houthi spokesman denied blocking traffic through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, stating that the maritime blockade "only affects the Saudi side." This statement adds another layer of complexity to the already tense regional dynamics.

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only affects the Saudi side