Yemen's gov't in exile recalls envoy to Iran, warns of severing ties

The exiled Yemeni government in Riyadh said on Thursday it was recalling its envoy in Tehran, blaming Iran for interfering with its domestic affairs and backing the Shiite Houthi group.

"The legitimate government of Yemen is recalling charge d'affaires Abdullah al-Sirri," the press office of Yemeni President Abd-Rabbo Mansour Hadi said in a statement.

Yemeni Foreign Minister Riyadh Yaseen also stressed the possibility of terminating political ties with Tehran, it said.

Hadi fled to Riyadh in late March as the Houthi fighters closed in on his last foothold in Yemen's port city of Aden.

The Yemeni move came after an Iranian aid ship head Yemen's way insisted on entering the port of Hodeidah in Yemen, and dismissed a request to detour to Djibouti, where the United Nations Relief Center is located, Saudi television al Arabiya said.

Hadi's government also insisted that Iran's Yemen-bound ship should be inspected before docking, while Tehran said it will not allow such inspections.

Tensions between the two countries have deepened as Yemen blames Iran of supporting Houthi rebels, which have been subject to air raids by a Saudi-led coalition since March 26. However, Tehran has always rejected the accusations that it is arming the Houthis.

A five-day humanitarian pause in the bombing campaign is now in effect, despite flareups in some places on the ground inside Yemen between the Houthis and tribal militia loyal to Yemeni President Abdu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Meanwhile Yemen announced the arrival of seven ships Thursday carrying flour, medical aid and petroleum products, in addition to 18 aid shipments through Sanaa airport. Endit