FM Spokeswoman Raps US Kerry’s Remarks on Iran’s Role in Yemen

(FNA)- The Iranian foreign ministry lashed out at US Secretary of State John Kerry for his allegations about Tehran's role in the events in Yemen, saying Washington is attempting to project the blame on others.

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham described Kerry's allegations that Iran was helping the overthrow of the Yemeni government as an attempt by the US to project the blame on others and contradictory to the previous comments of Washington officials.

"Iran's principled policy is based on the fact that nations should decide their own fates," she said.

"All sides should allow the Yemeni nation to decide its own fate and all mechanisms should be based on people's demand and will," he added.

Afkham underlined that any foreign meddling in Yemen's political developments will cause continued crisis in the country and will impede restoration of political stability in the country, and said, "Any foreign interference will usher the country into more complications."

In relevant remarks on Sunday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian voiced Tehran's full support for the peaceful and democratic transition of political power in Yemen.

“Tehran supports a Yemen which moves on the path of national unity, social welfare, security and regional stability. A Yemen which enjoys constructive interaction with its neighbors and also with the regional states and stays strong and united in its fight against terrorism and extremism,” Amir Abdollahian stressed.

“Yemeni Ansarullah movement has taken major steps to restore domestic peace and stability to the country through completing political procedure,” he went on to say.

The Iranian official further said that closing of western countries' missions in Sana’a was a “hasty move made against domestic, regional and international efforts”.

Yemen has been suffering turmoil since a popular uprising that erupted in 2011 ended the autocracy of President Ali Abdullah Saleh a year later.

The Houthi (Ansarullah) forces seized control of Sana'a in September of 2014 and have since then moved to extend their control to other provinces.

The revolutionaries say the former government was incapable of establishing security and had permanently failed in managing the administrative affairs of the impoverished Muslim country.

Now Ansarullah is ruling Yemen and its fighters have struck major success in defeat and pushing back the Al-Qaeda groups operating in the Southern parts of the country.

The US, Britain, France and Saudi Arabia have closed their embassies in Yemen due to what they called as the deteriorating security situation and political crisis in the country.