Saudi chargé d’affaires summoned over Riyadh’s anti-Iran comments

The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned Saudi Arabia’s chargé d’affaires to voice Tehran’s protest at recent comments made by a Saudi commander who accused Tehran of alleged interference in the internal affairs of Yemen.

In a meeting with the Saudi chargé d’affaires in Tehran on Wednesday, a top Iranian official at the Foreign Ministry voiced Tehran’s anger over the recent remarks by Ahmed al-Asiri, the spokesman of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry official described the remarks as “untrue”, saying that the Islamic Republic of Iran denounces any use of force in Yemen and emphasizes the political resolution of problems in the Arab country.

During his daily military briefing on Wednesday, Asiri had said that the coalition reserved the right to respond to any attempt by Iran to arm Houthis, Al-Arabiya reported.

The Saudi commander had claimed that Iran is training Ansarallah forces in a bid to harm the Yemeni people and destroy the infrastructure of the country.

The remarks came as Saudi-led air strikes in Yemen have continued for the 15th day, with intense fighting occurring in the southern city of Aden, where rockets have reportedly landed on houses.

The World Health Organization said at least 643 people have died and more than 2,200 have been injured in the attacks on Yemeni soil by Saudi Arabia and its allies since March 19.