The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks during a telephone conversation with Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the United Nations special envoy to Yemen, on Monday.
“Since the UN, at this phase of the negotiations, did not succeed in establishing a ceasefire in Yemen, it was expected that serious and urgent efforts would be taken to establish green zones and mark some seaports and airports to accelerate the dispatching of humanitarian aid to the Yemeni people,” the Iranian diplomat said.
He also added that the Islamic republic of Iran backs the UN measures in sending humanitarian aid and organizing ‘real negotiations’ between Yemeni groups and parties.
He further reiterated that the ongoing crisis in Yemen can be resolved solely through political means, expressing Iran’s readiness to send humanitarian aid to Yemen in coordination with the UN.
The UN envoy, for his part, said that there was a deep gap between the Yemeni groups who took part in the talks in Geneva, adding the UN, however, stresses the continuation of negotiations between the parties.
Cheikh Ahmed also expressed his appreciation over Iran's humanitarian aid for the Yemeni people, adding the UN would continue making efforts until a ceasefire was reached in Yemen.
Yemen peace talks that was launched by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday ended in Geneva on Friday with no agreement, but the United Nations said it was still optimistic a ceasefire could be reached 'pretty soon.'