ADEN, Yemen/TEHRAN, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg has concluded a series of "frank and constructive" discussions in Iran's capital Tehran, for advancing peace efforts in Yemen, according to a statement from his office on Wednesday.
During his visit to Tehran, Grundberg met with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and other senior Iranian officials and diplomats to discuss ways to overcome challenges posed by the ongoing conflict and to ensure a peaceful settlement in Yemen, the statement said.
The UN envoy highlighted several pressing issues, including regional developments that pose risks to mediation efforts and recent escalations in the Red Sea, stressing that dialogue is "the only sustainable path to achieving peace and stability in Yemen."
He called for "unified regional and international efforts" toward a comprehensive solution to the Yemen crisis.
Grundberg also mentioned the ongoing detention of UN staff and other aid workers by Yemen's Houthi group, saying, "Their release must happen without delay to restore the hope and trust needed for moving forward."
The Houthis have since June detained dozens of employees from UN agencies, international organizations, and local NGOs in Yemen. The United Nations has repeatedly called for their "immediate and unconditional release."
In his talks with Grundberg, Araghchi expressed Iran's strong support for sustainable peace and security in Yemen, appreciating the UN's efforts to that end, according to a statement by his ministry late Tuesday,
Araghchi pointed to the sensitivity and interconnected nature of regional developments, highlighting the negative impact of the continuation of Israel's "crimes" in the Gaza Strip on the entire region.
Yemen has been embroiled in a civil conflict since 2014, when the Houthis seized control of the capital, Sanaa. Despite diplomatic endeavors over the years, neither side has demonstrated the will to revive negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict, which, according to UN estimates, has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. ■
