ADEN — Yemen’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Bin Mubarak has accused Iran of prolonging the conflict in his country through its continued support to the terrorist Houthi militia.

During a virtual meeting with US Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley, the Yemeni minister said that Iran has played a role in recent years in undermining the security and stability of Yemen and the entire Arab region using its Houthi proxy.

He added that the continued Iranian support to the Houthi insurgents is hindering all efforts to achieve peace and stability in Yemen.

The minister said, “The war in Yemen has prolonged only due to Iran’s military support to the Houthis; and the Houthis have especially exacerbated the humanitarian crisis on the Yemeni people.”

The minister was quoted in a statement carried by the official Saba News Agency as saying that Iran has transformed Yemen into a platform to blackmail neighboring countries and threaten international peace and security.

He added that all international efforts to end ongoing war in Yemen have failed due to the stubborn attitude of the Iran-backed Houthi militia.

Bin Mubarak explained that all Houthis’ acts are decided in Tehran in order to achieve Iranian agenda and sabotage goals in the region.

He called on the US to step up more pressure on the Iranian regime to stop supporting the Houthi militants and to stop arms smuggling and stop Houthi militias targeting civilians in Yemen and in the neighboring countries.

For his part, the US envoy to Iran has presented a briefing on Washington’s stance on Iran nuclear deal and the ongoing Vienna talks.

He also stressed the need for more intensified efforts to end war in Yemen and safeguard its security and territorial unity, underling his country’s support in this regard. — SPA