Speaking to reporters on Friday, Baqaei outlined Iran’s position on the Saudi Arabia-Yemen conflict, emphasizing Tehran’s principled stance that dialogue between the two sides is necessary to resolve their differences through diplomatic channels.
He said the Islamic Republic has consistently been ready to use its good offices to help end the hostilities and remains prepared to employ all its capabilities for this purpose if both parties request it.
Referring to the history of the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, Baqaei said developments over the past 12 years have demonstrated that “foreign intervention, a military approach, and a blockade are not the solution to Yemen’s problems.”
The Yemeni people, he noted, have endured more than a decade of the country’s air and naval blockade, showing remarkable resilience and patience in bearing the consequences of an unjust blockade designed by actors from outside the region, particularly Britain and the United States.
Baqaei said regional countries and the broader Islamic world are expected to make serious efforts to bring this situation to an end.
Commenting on a claim by a Saudi Foreign Ministry official that Iran had encouraged Yemenis to attack Saudi Arabia, the spokesman categorically rejected any alleged Iranian role in Yemeni operations.
He stressed that resolving the Yemen issue requires respect for the country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, an end to all interference in its internal affairs and, above all, the lifting of the air and naval blockade imposed on the country.
Baqaei further stated that Yemen’s armed forces act according to their own interests and assessments, adding that such allegations are not credible to those familiar with Iran’s relations with its friends.
Nevertheless, he emphasized that Iran considers an escalation of tensions to be in no party’s interest.