Iran welcomes UN-brokered truce in Yemen

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran has welcomed the two-month truce brokered by the United Nations between Yemen’s warring sides, hoping for a permanent end to the protracted conflict.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh hailed the announcement of the ceasefire, starting with the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

He said the truce “could be a prelude” to the “complete lifting of the siege” and “the establishment of a permanent ceasefire” to find a “political solution” to the crisis in Yemen.

The nationwide truce was announced by the UN special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, after meeting with representatives of the two sides in Amman.

Coming into effect on April 2, the ceasefire requires both warring sides to halt their military operations, including cross-border attacks.

Grundberg hoped the truce, which came after weeks of escalation in fighting between the Saudi-led coalition forces and Yemen’s Houthi rebels, would be extended after two months.

The UN envoy said he plans to work closely with the two sides during the two-month truce period to pave the way for a permanent ceasefire.

Khatibzadeh stressed Tehran’s support for the ceasefire as well as political and humanitarian solutions to the eight-year war.

The truce has come after Houthis claimed responsibility for a series of missile attacks in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in recent weeks, which also led to heightened tensions between Tehran and Riyadh.

Significantly, the two-month truce has opened the door for the resumption of tension-easing talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran.