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Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif Puts Forward Peace Plan for Yemen - WSJ
Four-point plan includes an immediate cease-fire, humanitarian assistance
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif answers journalists' questions in Madrid, Tuesday. Iran's foreign minister laid out a four-point plan to resolve the conflict in Yemen. PHOTO: REUTERS
MADRID—Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on Tuesday unveiled a four-point plan, including an immediate cease-fire, aimed at resolving the continuing military conflict in Yemen.
Mr. Zarif said the plan also allows for much-needed humanitarian assistance, an “intra-Yemeni” dialogue among local factions, and an agreement by regional and other powers that Yemen should have “a broad-based government friendly to all its neighbors.”
His remarks come as Iran and six world powers work toward a deal that would curb Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for a lifting of international sanctions. A framework deal was reached earlier this month and Mr. Zarif said follow-up talks are slated to start Tuesday next week ahead of a June 30 deadline.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is expanding its role in Saudi Arabia’s campaign in Yemen, vetting military targets and searching vessels for Yemen-bound Iranian arms amid growing concerns about the goals of the Saudi-led mission, according to U.S. and Arab officials.
At least 648 civilians have been killed since the intervention began, and Saudi-led strikes have hit hospitals, schools, a refugee camp and neighborhoods, U.N. officials say.
The Saudis have blamed the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and their Yemeni allies for the civilian casualties, and say they are only trying to degrade the Houthis’ military capabilities.
Mr. Zarif, who is on an official visit to Spain, said that Iran isn’t seeking dominance in Yemen and that the Saudi military campaign is only making the problem worse.
“Everyone in Yemen carries two weapons,” said Mr. Zarif. “Whoever has the aspiration of controlling this country doesn’t know Yemen.”
Mr. Zarif also warned European allies of the U.S., such as Spain, that the military conflict in Yemen may deepen if they insist on preconditions before diplomatic talks.
“This a trap: the trap that Europe got itself into in Syria, it shouldn’t get into in Yemen,” Mr. Zarif said.
Kamran Bokhari, a Middle East analyst with Stratfor, an intelligence and advisory firm based in Austin, Texas, said Mr Zarif’s comments indicate that Iran recognizes the limitations it faces exerting power in distant Yemen.
However, Mr Bokhari added, the remarks were disingenuous in that while Iran has only limited leverage with the Houthis currently, this might change in the future if the Houthis consolidate their hold—which is precisely the Saudis’ fear.
“The Iranians are not stakeholders in Yemen now, but they want to be stakeholders,” Mr Bokhari said. “These are all nice words, but behind them there’s the plan that Yemen becomes part of the Iranian sphere of influence.”
Four-point plan includes an immediate cease-fire, humanitarian assistance
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif answers journalists' questions in Madrid, Tuesday. Iran's foreign minister laid out a four-point plan to resolve the conflict in Yemen. PHOTO: REUTERS
MADRID—Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on Tuesday unveiled a four-point plan, including an immediate cease-fire, aimed at resolving the continuing military conflict in Yemen.
Mr. Zarif said the plan also allows for much-needed humanitarian assistance, an “intra-Yemeni” dialogue among local factions, and an agreement by regional and other powers that Yemen should have “a broad-based government friendly to all its neighbors.”
His remarks come as Iran and six world powers work toward a deal that would curb Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for a lifting of international sanctions. A framework deal was reached earlier this month and Mr. Zarif said follow-up talks are slated to start Tuesday next week ahead of a June 30 deadline.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is expanding its role in Saudi Arabia’s campaign in Yemen, vetting military targets and searching vessels for Yemen-bound Iranian arms amid growing concerns about the goals of the Saudi-led mission, according to U.S. and Arab officials.
At least 648 civilians have been killed since the intervention began, and Saudi-led strikes have hit hospitals, schools, a refugee camp and neighborhoods, U.N. officials say.
The Saudis have blamed the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and their Yemeni allies for the civilian casualties, and say they are only trying to degrade the Houthis’ military capabilities.
Mr. Zarif, who is on an official visit to Spain, said that Iran isn’t seeking dominance in Yemen and that the Saudi military campaign is only making the problem worse.
“Everyone in Yemen carries two weapons,” said Mr. Zarif. “Whoever has the aspiration of controlling this country doesn’t know Yemen.”
Mr. Zarif also warned European allies of the U.S., such as Spain, that the military conflict in Yemen may deepen if they insist on preconditions before diplomatic talks.
“This a trap: the trap that Europe got itself into in Syria, it shouldn’t get into in Yemen,” Mr. Zarif said.
Kamran Bokhari, a Middle East analyst with Stratfor, an intelligence and advisory firm based in Austin, Texas, said Mr Zarif’s comments indicate that Iran recognizes the limitations it faces exerting power in distant Yemen.
However, Mr Bokhari added, the remarks were disingenuous in that while Iran has only limited leverage with the Houthis currently, this might change in the future if the Houthis consolidate their hold—which is precisely the Saudis’ fear.
“The Iranians are not stakeholders in Yemen now, but they want to be stakeholders,” Mr Bokhari said. “These are all nice words, but behind them there’s the plan that Yemen becomes part of the Iranian sphere of influence.”
