TEHRAN: Iran voiced support on Thursday for efforts to relaunch political talks on the Yemen crisis but said it opposed foreign interference in the conflict in which it backs the Houthi rebels.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also called for a ceasefire in Yemen, where Saudi-led coalition warplanes have stepped up raids on the Shia rebels who have overrun much of the country.

“Iran backs initiatives aimed at bringing Yemeni political groups around the negotiating table,” Zarif said as he received the United Nations special envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed.

However, Zarif insisted that the talks should be attended only by Yemen’s political groups and that no representatives from “any other country should be present at the dialogue”, Fars news agency reported.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2015

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