Iran Slams Saudi FM’s Claim as “Absurd, Baseless”

“The claim by the Saudi foreign minister that Iran is sabotaging efforts to establish peace in Yemen is absurd and unfounded,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said on Monday.

He made the remarks in reaction to anti-Iran allegations raised by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir in a meeting, in Riyadh, of political and military officials of the alliance which has launched aggression against Yemen.

“Since the very early hours of the [Saudi-led] aggression against Yemen, Iran has condemned it and called for an end to the war,” he said.

The spokesman noted that Iran also rejects any military solution to the crisis in Yemen, and will spare no effort to help end the bloody and despicable war.

“The repetition of false claims in the Riyadh meeting will not reduce the humanitarian and international responsibility of those who commit heinous crimes such as killing [people], destroying schools and hospitals, imposing blockades, and starving innocent and Muslim people.”

He said the settlement of Yemen’s problems is subject to the cessation of war and sending humanitarian aid to Yemen and holding all-encompassing talks between all Yemeni groups.

Qassemi also urged the participants of the meeting not to continue repeating their mistakes and apologize to Yemeni people to set the stage for ending the war and the start of a comprehensive dialogue.