Iran rejects Saudi Arabia-hosted dialogue on Yemen

Beirut, May 19 (IANS/EFE) Iran on Monday rejected Saudi Arabia hosting the three-day dialogues on the Yemen conflict, talks that began on Sunday in Riyadh without representation from the Shia Houthi movement.

Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told reporters here on Monday that "Saudi Arabia is one of the conflict's two parties, so it cannot host the dialogue between the two sides".

He added that the talks should be held in a third, neutral country that is not involved in the Yemeni armed conflict, and suggested that the UN handle the talks.

Velayati, who arrived in Lebanon on Monday, called on Saudi Arabia to stop its "brutal airstrikes against innocent Yemeni civilians".

Saudi Arabia and Iran hold staunchly differing positions on the Yemeni conflict, where the Shia Houthi rebels try to seize power from the forces loyal to Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

While Tehran does not conceal its support for the Houthis, Saudi Arabia has become the main supporter of Hadi accusing Iran repeatedly of trying to increase its regional influence by directly supporting the Shia movement.

--IANS/EFE

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