Iran to keep its embassy open in Yemen: official

Iran's embassy in Yemen will continue its usual operation, Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said here on Monday.

Iran has no plan to close its mission in the war-stricken Arab state, state IRIB TV quoted the minister as saying, in response to some Arab media reports that Tehran has recently shut down its embassy in Sanaa.

"Our ambassador (to Yemen) has returned to the country for a few days to undergo some medical treatments," Amir-Abdollahian said.

"The ambassador of the Islamic Republic was present in Sanaa during the Saudi-led raids on the city and, with no doubt, Iran's embassy will continue its usual activities there," he said.

Reiterating Tehran's "strong support to Yemeni people against terrorism," Amir-Abdollahian said Iran will "continue our effective political and humanitarian supports to the Yemenis."

Iran backs political dialogue to resolve the crisis in Yemen and believes that military measures will not end in victory for any side involved in the conflicts, he said.

Saudi Arabia has long accused Iran of arming and financing Shiite Houthi fighters against Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, an accusation strongly rejected by Tehran.

A Saudi-led coalition has waged an air war on Houthi rebels since late March in an effort to restore the authority of Hadi, who is now based in Riyadh.

The were reports that the coalition has recently dispatched ground troops to Yemen to fight the Houthi rebels.

The airstrikes and fighting between warring parties in Yemen have left more than 2,000 people killed and thousands wounded, while more than one million people were displaced. Endit