U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced today almost $189 million in additional humanitarian assistance in response to the crisis in Yemen, bringing the total U.S. humanitarian assistance for Yemen to more than $327 million in fiscal year 2016.
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Foreing Minister Zarif, who is on a LatAm tour now, has reacted to statements by US Secretary of State John Kerry who had accused Iran of sending military equipment to Yemen, Foreign Ministry’s Media Diplomacy Department reported on Friday.
The Saudis attacked Yemen in March of 2015, demanding the Houthis surrender all territory to former President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who lost the capital city to them in a failed military offensive against the Shi’ite north, and subsequently resigned in January.
Yemen’s internationally recognised government, based in Saudi Arabia, has made similar demands but insisted that the Houthis fulfil all those measures before any new government was formed.
The Yemen war has killed more than 6,500 people and displaced some 3 million.
The UN brokered three months of peace talks in Kuwait but they were suspended earlier this month when the government reacted angrily to the rebels’ appointment of a new ruling council in Sanaa.
The continuous air campaign came amid a flurry of meetings between Kerry, Saudi King Salman and other key players that focused on Yemen and Syria.
Kerry told reporters during his visit to Saudi Arabia to discuss with Arab allies and United Nations officials means to end the conflict that he hoped a new goal of establishing a unity government would succeed where other peace efforts have failed.
Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister, said Kerry’s remarks show the USA government is “an accomplice in Saudi war crimes against the innocent people of Yemen”.
The proposal comes amid reports that Houthis have stepped up missile attacks on border regions in Saudi Arabia over the past weeks.
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Kerry made similar accusations a year ago, saying the Obama administration was aware that the Islamic Republic was providing military supplies to the Houthis.
