Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says there is no military solution to the Yemen crisis as tensions rise over the Bab al-Mandab Strait and regional shipping routes.
TEHRAN: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has called for dialogue to resolve the escalating conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, insisting that military action will not bring lasting peace to the region.
In an interview published on Saturday by the state-run Iran Daily newspaper, Araghchi said diplomacy remained the only viable path to addressing the conflict and broader regional security challenges.
‘No Military Solution’ to Yemen Crisis
“We believe there is no military solution to the issues concerning Yemen, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and other regional disputes,” Araghchi said, urging all parties to pursue dialogue instead of further escalation.
He stressed that negotiations were essential to restoring stability in one of the world’s most strategically important maritime regions.
Iran Rejects Responsibility
The Iranian foreign minister dismissed accusations linking Tehran directly to the latest developments in Yemen.
According to Araghchi, the ongoing crisis cannot be attributed solely to Iran, arguing that the tensions stem from long-standing disputes involving Yemen, Saudi Arabia and other regional countries.
He maintained that the situation around the Bab al-Mandab Strait is rooted in historical political and security disagreements rather than external interference.
Saudi-Houthi Tensions Flare Again
The conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis has intensified this month after years of relative calm following a United Nations-brokered truce in 2022.
The Tehran-backed Houthi movement has announced a blockade of Saudi ports and claimed responsibility for attacks targeting oil tankers, raising fresh concerns over regional security and global energy supplies.
The renewed hostilities have threatened Saudi Arabia’s ability to export goods through the Red Sea, particularly as Iran continues its own blockade-related measures in the Strait of Hormuz, another critical global shipping route.
Houthis Clarify Maritime Blockade
On Friday, a Houthi spokesperson said the group’s maritime restrictions were directed exclusively at Saudi interests and did not affect international commercial shipping passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The spokesman insisted that the blockade was intended to target Saudi maritime activity rather than disrupt global trade.
The renewed tensions have heightened international concern over the security of two of the world’s busiest maritime corridors, with diplomats continuing efforts to prevent the conflict from expanding across the wider Middle East.
