ADEN — Yemeni Information Minister Muammar Al-Eryani affirmed that the international efforts have failed to persuade the Iran-backed Houthi militias to allow the United Nations (UN) technical team to assess the situation of "Safer" Oil Tanker.

“All international efforts made over past months to convince Iran-backed Houthis militia to allow UN technical team to assess the oil tanker Safer & contain the risks of explosion, leakage or sinking have failed, noting recent satellite images of looming risks,” he said.

In a statement to SABA, he added that the Houthi militias have continued for years to achieve political and financial gains via this tanker without any concern to the catastrophic environmental and economic consequences and losses in a case of an explosion or sinking of the Safer oil tanker.

He tweeted: “Houthi militia manipulates with the tanker problem to achieve political & economic gains in disregard 2 catastrophic environmental & economic consequences & losses estimated at billions of $ if tanker exploded, sank, & oil spill over into the Red Sea.”

The Yemeni Information Minister called upon the international community and the Security Council to assume their responsibilities towards maintaining the international peace and security.

In a tweet he said, “Intl community & UNSC, who r responsible 4 maintaining intl peace & security, is required to act immediately & stop this potential disaster that will continue 4 decades, & pressure on Houthi militia to contain risks of Safer tanker on Yemen, region, & intl shipping lines.” — SPA