In a meeting with Omani Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah in Muscat on Tuesday, Zarif stressed the need for national inter-Yemeni dialogue and criticized the unilateral mechanisms adopted by certain parties to resolve the crisis in Yemen, which is being targeted with military strikes by Saudi Arabia.
In working out solutions, one cannot ignore a considerable section of the Yemeni population, the top Iranian diplomat said.
Zarif expressed deep concern over the Saudi military aggression against Yemen, saying the assaults, which began on March 26, have done irreparable damage to the impoverished Arab country.
The Saudi military attacks against Yemen have no UN mandate, and are meant to undermine the Houthi Ansarullah movement and to restore power to Yemens fugitive former President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi. About 2,000 people have died in the attacks so far.
The Houthis currently control the capital, Sanaa, and major provinces.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"]
Smoke billows following a Saudi airstrike on an arms depot east of the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, May 22, 2015. ( AFP)[/caption]The Iranian foreign minister also praised Omans efforts in getting the viewpoints of all Yemeni parties involved in the conflict closer together and in facilitating negotiations among them.
The Omani official, for his part, referred to Irans active role in the Middle East, describing the role as positive and aimed at the resolution of regional disputes.
He further emphasized the need for sending humanitarian aid consignments to Yemen, saying that the issue is of concern to Omani officials.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="555"]
Omani Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah[/caption]Tehran-Muscat agreement
Turning to the maritime demarcation agreement signed earlier in the day between Tehran and Muscat, Zarif said the move opened a new chapter in Iran-Oman relations and the Islamic Republic welcomes the further enhancement of ties with the Persian Gulf Arab country.
Zarif arrived in Oman on Tuesday for talks on regional developments, including the Saudi aggression against Yemen and on facilitating sending humanitarian aid to Yemeni people.
The Iranian foreign minister is scheduled to leave Oman for Kuwait to attend the 42nd Meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Foreign Affairs Ministers, which is slated to be held on May 27 and 28 in Kuwait City.
By Press TV
