The Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government of Sanaa Hisham Sharaf during a meeting with the Iranian Ambassador to Yemen, Hassan Erlo (Archive)

The Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government of Sanaa Hisham Sharaf discussed, on Sunday, with the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Sanaa Hassan Erlo ways to engage in greater cooperation between the two countries.

Within the framework of periodical meetings and diplomatic coordination, the encounter touched upon the latest issues and developments in regional and international arenas.

The two diplomats also tackled a joint statement issued after a meeting of the US and Gulf Cooperation Council working group on Iran, which was held in Saudi Arabia on the 17th of this month.

On his account, Sharaf rejected the joint statement’s “false accusations against Iran and its support for the Yemeni people, at a time when the Saudi-Emirati alliance – backed by the US and the UK – uses all kinds of internationally prohibited weapons and ammunition in the war on Yemen, not to mention comprehensive blockades on all ports of entry to Yemen, including air, sea, and land.”

"While igniting war and chaos, the coalition lectures about peace, a comprehensive solution, and means to alleviate suffering and end the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen, during its participation in international forums," he added.

Erlo affirmed that "Tehran backs Yemen and its people," adding that "Iran believes that no military solution can be fruitful in Yemen and that only a peaceful political solution will restore security and stability to the region."

Senior US officials and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), convened their Working Group on Iran at the GCC’s Headquarters in Riyadh on November 17.

In their joint statement, the US and GCC member states claimed that “the proliferation and direct use of advanced ballistic missiles and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) form a threat”, adding that “Iran’s nuclear program is of grave concern, as Iran has taken steps for which it has no civilian need but that would be important to a nuclear weapons program.”