Leader’s Aide Urges Formation of Regional Coalition

(FNA)- Iranian Supreme Leader's top adviser for international affairs Ali Akbar Velayati underscored the necessity for launching a regional coalition in opposition to the Saudi-led war against the innocent Yemeni people.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is the only country in the world which has defended the Yemeni people clearly and without any considerations," Velayati said in an interview with Persian-language Keyhan daily on Saturday.

He underlined the necessity for the formation of a regional coalition against the Saudi-led military strikes on Yemen, and meantime, said, "This needs time."

Velayati said that certain regional states, including Iraq, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Oman have already voiced support for Yemen against Riyadh's military strikes.

In relevant remarks on Wednesday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian in a meeting with Omani Foreign Minister Youssef Bin Alawi in Muscat underlined the need for stopping the Saudi-led airstrikes on Yemen and accelerating dispatch of humanitarian aid to the Yemeni people.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran wants the foreign military attacks against Yemen to come to a halt and the flow of humanitarian aid to the country to be accelerated," Amir Abdollahian said.

He, meantime, pointed to the status quo of Iran-Oman relations, and said, "The two countries' relations present a successful model for the region."

The Omani foreign minister, for his part, regretted the ongoing crisis in Yemen, and said, "The human conditions in Yemen are very tragic."

Bin Alawi also called on the international bodies to expedite dispatch of humanitarian aids to Yemen.

In May, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a meeting with Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos expressed regret over the slow trend of the delivery of relief aids to the war-stricken Yemeni people.

During the meeting in Tehran, both sides discussed ways of providing the people of Yemen with relief aid, and stressed expediting the process.

Zarif referred to repeated violations of the cease-fire in Yemen by the Saudi-led coalition, and said that as a result, rapid and complete dispatch of aid has been troubled.

Denouncing the current trend of the international relief aids to Yemen, he added, "Implementation of the UN Security Council's resolution shouldn't hamper the process."

He also suggested establishing safe areas in Yemen where urgent humanitarian aid could be sent.

Iran has sent a large amount of humanitarian aid to Yemen and intends to send more but the Iranian officials insist on unloading the cargos in Yemen to provide the Yemeni people with foodstuff and medical aid directly.

The 2,500-ton cargo of the Iranian ship carrying humanitarian aid to Yemen was discharged at Djibouti port in May.

The Iranian ship named 'Iran Shahed' loaded with pharmaceuticals and medical equipment was unloaded and delivered its aid cargo to the UN at a port in neighboring Djibouti.

Iran Shahed that was sent by the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) to Yemen on May 13 changed its direction towards Djibouti while in the Gulf of Aden a few days ago to be inspected by the UN.

Also in June, IRCS Managing Director Seyed Amir Mohsen Ziyaee announced that his organization would send another ship with relief aid to Yemen soon.

"A 12,000-ton shipment of Iran's relief aids is being prepared for dispatch to Yemen," Ziyaee said.