▲ Esmaeil Baghaei, Spokesperson for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Iranian government has strongly dismissed claims by Saudi Arabia that Iran incited the Houthi rebel attacks in Yemen against Saudi territory.
According to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei met with reporters on the local date of the 16th and completely denied allegations by a Saudi Foreign Ministry official that Iran was involved in the Houthi operations.
Baghaei emphasized that resolving the issue in Yemen requires respecting its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, halting interference in its internal affairs, and, above all, lifting the maritime and aerial blockade on Yemen.
He drew a line by stating that Yemen's armed forces act based on their own interests and judgment, adding that to those familiar with the relations between Iran and its allies, the Saudi claims lack credibility.
However, he added that escalating tensions benefits no party involved.
Baghaei also reaffirmed Iran's principled stance on achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen through diplomacy and dialogue.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran is always ready to make every effort to help end the conflict and will mobilize all its capabilities for this purpose if requested by both sides," he said.
He further pointed out that, as the 12-year history of conflict demonstrates, foreign intervention, a military posture, and blockade measures cannot serve as solutions to the Yemeni issue.
Earlier, Rayed Krimly, Saudi Arabia's Deputy Minister for Public Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, criticized during a virtual briefing with reporters the previous day, stating, "Iran continues to arm, train, and support the Houthi militia in violation of UN Security Council resolutions."
Krimly added, "We view the intensified offensive by the Houthi rebels in this recent phase of the conflict as having been incited by Iran."
(Photo: Capture from Iran's state-run IRNA Telegram, Yonhap News)
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