TEHRAN, Oct 14 (NNN-IRNA) – Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Sunday, called for ending the Yemeni war politically.
Iran “has long proposed a plan to end the war in Yemen, which, if implemented, can end the war in a proper way, which can have positive effects on the region,” Khamenei said, in a meeting with visiting Pakistani Prime Minister, Imran Khan, in Tehran.
The Iranian leader was alluding to Iran’s “four-point peace plan for Yemen” which was submitted to the United Nations by Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, in Apr, 2015.
“It is imperative for the international community to get more effectively involved in ending the senseless aerial attacks and establishing a cease-fire” in Yemen, Zarif wrote to the UN chief, upon submitting Iran’s plan.
Under the plan, Iran is ready to cooperate with the UN “to facilitate and encourage an immediate end to these senseless bombardments, and initiate a genuine dialogue, to find a political solution to this tragic crisis.”
Khamenei said that West Asia is a “very sensitive and critical” region, expressing regret about what he called the “destructive role played by some regional countries” through their support for terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria, causing a war and bloodshed in Yemen.
“We have no motivation for being hostile towards these countries, but they are under the influence of the U.S. and act against Iran, in line with what America desires,” he said.
Khamenei said that Iran has never initiated any war, stressing that, however, “if someone starts a war against Iran, they will undoubtedly regret it.”
For his part, the Pakistani prime minister said, Islamabad attaches importance to the security in the region and will maintain its relations and cooperation with Iran as a crucial partner.
In a joint press conference with Imran, Iran’s President, Hassan Rouhani said, they discussed the establishment of regional stability and sustainable peace, as the Middle East, particularly the Gulf and the Sea of Oman, is a very critical region in the world.
Rouhani said, both Tehran and Islamabad believed that regional issues should be solved through political approaches and dialogue among countries, adding that, cruel sanctions imposed by the United States against the Iranian people are an example of “economic terrorism.”
He stressed that “the first step to ease tension in the region is the ceasefire in Yemen and the end of attacks against the country’s oppressed people.”
Rouhani said that any tension or conflict in the region would benefit Israel.
Imran said the main reason for his trip to Tehran is, his country does not “want a new conflict in this region.”
He added that, at a meeting, U.S. President, Donald Trump, asked him to act as a “facilitator” between Iran and the United States.
There are difficulties on this path, but Islamabad would do its utmost, to help lift sanctions against Iran, and implement the Iran nuclear deal by all its signatories, he said.
Iran also welcomed Pakistan’s mediation for talks with Saudi Arabia, over issues in the region and in Yemen.
“Iran announced that it is always ready, with or without a mediator, to hold talks with its neighbours, including Saudi Arabia, so that if there is any misunderstanding, it could be cleared,” Abbas Mousavi, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, said.
Imran’s official visit to Iran will be followed by his visit to Saudi Arabia, as part of Islamabad’s efforts to defuse increasing tensions in the Middle East.
