Irans new ambassador to Sanaa has submitted his credentials to Yemeni officials amid the United States ire at the progressive course of the two countries relations.
Hassan Irloo submitted his bona fides to Mahdi al-Mashat, head of Yemens Supreme Political Council, during a meetingin the Yemeni capital on Wednesday, Yemens al-Masirah television network reported.
The meeting that took place with other senior Yemeni officials in attendance, including Foreign Minister Hisham Sharaf, discussed potential means of reinforcement and strengthening of the bilateral ties.
Mashat welcomed Irloo, wishing him success, and asserting that his country would do all that was necessary to help the Iranian envoy perform his diplomatic mission.
Irloo, for his part, conveyed President Hassan Rouhanis regards to the Yemeni official, wishing him well-being and the Yemeni people development and progress.
Last month, US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus issued a raft of meddlesome remarks on Iran-Yemen relations.
She addressed Irans appointment of Irloo as its new envoy to Yemen, claiming that the Islamic Republic had smuggled the official into Sanaa. This is while Irans Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh had earlier personally verified the appointment and Irans reputable news agencies widely reported on the development.
Ortagus also alleged that Irloo was representing Iran to Yemens Houthi militias.
The Yemeni popular defense movement, also known as Ansarullah, is part of the Supreme Political Council. The movement took over managing the countrys affairs after Yemens former Saudi-backed government fled to Riyadh amid a power crisis and refused to stay behind and negotiate power with Ansarullah.
The Houthis have also been defending their country against a 2015-present Saudi-led and US-backed war that has been seeking to return Yemens Riyadh-allied officials.
The war has killed tens of thousands of Yemenis and forced the Arab worlds already poorest country close to the edge of outright famine. The overall situation has, according to the United Nations, turned Yemen into the scene of the worlds worst humanitarian crisis.
Responding to Ortagus remarks back then, Khatibzadeh said in a tweet at the time that Washington had better end its years-long atrocities against the impoverished nation than advise it on its ties with the outside world.
The US has underwritten 5yrs of Saudi-led slaughter in Yemen, the spokesman said, adding,US is thus in NO position to lecture Yemenis & Iranians abt their bilat ties. Better to end your crimes & malign presence in our region.