Yemeni Gov’t Rejects Iran’s Mediation Bid, Accuses Tehran of Fueling Conflict
- 2026-10-18
- 15:41:53
Aden – Yemen’s government has firmly rejected Iran’s attempts to present itself as a mediator in the Yemeni conflict, holding Tehran responsible for supporting the Houthi coup and prolonging the war through military assistance, funding, training, and the supply of missiles, drones, and military experts.
Yemeni Foreign Minister Afrah Al-Zouba said Iran had made itself a direct party to the conflict against the Yemeni people and should, instead of offering mediation, halt its military support for the Houthis and respect the sovereignty of states and the principles of good neighborliness.
The minister’s remarks reflect the Yemeni government’s efforts to shift the focus from political accusations toward calls for stronger international action against the sources of Houthi armament and military support.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 52nd Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Baghdad, Al-Zouba stressed that Tehran cannot arm one side of the conflict and then present itself as a neutral mediator seeking to end it.
“Iran cannot supply weapons to one party and then claim the role of mediator,” she said, arguing that attempts to portray the war as a dispute between Yemen and Saudi Arabia ignore the reality of what occurred when an armed group overthrew state institutions in Yemen.
The foreign minister also accused the Iranian regime of using Yemen as a bargaining chip in broader regional negotiations, claiming that pressures directed at Tehran are often diverted into actions that impose costs on the peoples of the region as well as on international trade and global markets.
Al-Zouba further stated that the Houthis have repeatedly rejected regional and international peace initiatives, including the Saudi-backed roadmap aimed at ending the conflict.
She argued that the group had used periods of de-escalation and ceasefires to reorganize its forces and strengthen its military capabilities rather than engage constructively in peace efforts.