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IRAN WANTS TALKS

Advisor to Pakistan's Prime Minister Sartaj Aziz (L) escorts
Zarif before their meeting in Islamabad.

Rouhani calls for halt to Yemen air strikes

TEHRAN, April 9, 2015

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called on Saudi Arabia to halt a two-week-old campaign of air strikes against Houthi fighters in Yemen and said countries in the region should work to bring Yemen's rival factions to the negotiating table.

"A great nation like Yemen will not submit to bombing. Come, let us all think about ending war. Let us think about a ceasefire," Rouhani said in a televised speech.

"Let us prepare to bring Yemenis to the negotiating table to make decisions about their future."

Saudi Arabia and a coalition that includes four other Gulf states have waged air strikes against the Iran-allied Houthis to try to drive them back from the southern city of Aden. Iran denies Saudi and US accusations that it has armed the Houthis.  

In Pakistan, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Pakistan and Iran should cooperate to solve the deepening crisis in Yemen.

Zarif spoke during a two-day visit to the Pakistani capital in which he was expected to urge Islamabad to reject a Saudi request that it join a military operation against Houthis.

"We need to work together to find a political solution," he said. "It's the Yemenis who should sit at the table to solve the crisis and everybody including Iran and Saudi Arabia should facilitate."

"The people of Yemen should not have to face aerial bombardment," he added, referring to air strikes by a Saudi-led coalition that started last month.

Saudi Arabia has asked Pakistan to send planes, boats and troops to the operation.

Pakistani lawmakers have been debating the request for the past three days, and not one has spoken in favour of intervention in Yemen.

"The consensus that is emerging in parliament is that Pakistan should not participate in any military offensive. We should try to mediate, influence and facilitate peaceful dialoge," said Sartaj Aziz, the prime minister's adviser on security and foreign affairs.

Zarif said he favoured a four-part plan for Yemen: to impose a ceasefire, deliver humanitarian assistance, open a broad-based dialogue and finally establish a broad-based government. He recommended this to Pakistani, Turkish and Omani leaders, he said. - Reuters




Tags: Saudi | yemen | Talks | Rouhani |

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