News - Yemen: A senior advisor to Iran’s foreign minister says the people of Yemen are the only party entitled to make a final decision on the country’s fate, noting that the brutal economic blockade of the country by Saudi Arabia should be lifted as soon as possible.

Ali Asghar Khaji made the remarks in a Monday meeting with the UN special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, during which the two sides discussed various aspects of the ongoing crisis in the impoverished Arab country.

“The people of Yemen are the sole party making with the right to make a final decision on the fate of their country,” Khaji said, stressing that lifting the brutal Saudi-led economic blockade of the country would be prelude to finding a political solution to the country’s crisis.

Pointing to the UN role in settling the Yemeni crisis, he expressed Iran's support for any fair attempt by the world body in this regard.

The Iranian diplomat added that the current lack of trust between the warring parties has hindered progress in peace negotiations. He emphasized that practical measures, particularly with regard to humanitarian affairs, are needed to be taken to restore trust.

The UN envoy, for his part, said Yemen's fate should only be determined by its own people, adding that regional countries, particularly Iran, play a very important role in promoting the peace process in the war-hit country.

Saudi Arabia, backed by the US and regional allies, launched the war on Yemen in March 2015, with the goal of bringing the government of former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi back to power[..].

The Saudi war has left hundreds of thousands of Yemenis dead, and displaced millions more. It has also destroyed Yemen’s infrastructure and spread famine and infectious diseases.

In the meantime, Yemeni armed forces and the Popular Committees have grown steadily in strength against the Saudi-led invaders and left Riyadh and its allies bogged down in the country.

Source: Press TV