Iran calls for political solution in Yemen

The visiting special envoy of Iranian President Morteza Sarmadi stressed Wednesday that his country encourages all concerned parties in Yemen to launch dialogue to end the crisis, the National News Agency reported.

Following the meeting with Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut, Sarmadi stressed Iran's call for an halt to the Saudi-led military operation against Yemen's Houthi rebels, suggesting "holding dialogue in a neutral location with the participation of all Yemeni political factions to reach an agreement on a national government."

The Iranian official arrived in Lebanon on Wednesday to hold a series of meetings with Lebanese officials on Tehran's expected agreement with the West of its controversial nuclear program.

"A strategic mistake took place against Yemen," Sarmadi said following the meeting with Lebanon's Prime Minister Tammam Salam at the Grand Serail.

He said all countries that are keen for the regional interests must hand in hand settle the crisis and cease the military operations to find a mechanism for dialogue among the Yemeni people.

"The political solution will end the crisis while the military solution only worsens the situation," Sarmadi said, adding that "the claims that the airstrikes are aimed at restoring legitimacy are not based on any international resolution." Endit