On Friday, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian underlined the responsibility of the Yemeni government in guaranteeing the safety of Nour Ahmad Nikbakht -- the kidnapped administrative staff member at the Iranian Embassy in the Yemeni capital Sana’a.

He said certain clues have been discovered about the Iranian diplomat’s abduction, and that Yemeni officials have given assurances that the abducted Iranian diplomat will be freed.

“We hope that the efforts yield result as soon as possible, and we witness the freedom of the administrative staff member of our embassy in Sana’a,” Amir-Abdollahian pointed out.

Iran Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has slammed the “inhumane” abduction of the Iranian diplomat in Sana’a, urging the Yemeni government to take serious measures to secure his release.

In a telephone conversation with his Yemeni counterpart Abu Bakr al-Qirbi on Sunday, Salehi said according to international treaties and conventions, the host country is responsible for ensuring the safety of foreign diplomats.

He called on the Yemeni government to fulfill its duties and responsibilities in this regard.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has also summoned the Yemeni charge d’affaires to Tehran to convey the Islamic Republic's serious concern over the fate of the kidnapped Iranian diplomat and to reiterate the responsibility of Sana’a in guaranteeing Nikbakht’s safety.

Police sources in Yemen stated on Sunday that unknown gunmen had kidnapped Nikbakht.

The Iranian diplomat was travelling in the diplomatic quarter in southern Sana’a when armed men blocked the road, forced him to get out of his vehicle and took him to an unknown location.

HH/HH