Iran and Saudi Arabia support the Unity of Yemen

Prince Saud Alfaisal, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs

During his meeting with President Saleh in Sana’a on Thursday, Speaker of the Iranian Shoura Council, Ali Larijani, affirmed Iran’s strong support for Yemen’s security, stability and national unity.

He indicated the desire of many Iranian companies to invest in Yemen in the fields of energy, roads, dams and housing.

For his part, President Saleh re-affirmed Yemen’s support to Iran’s right to obtain nuclear energy for peaceful means.

President Saleh highlighted Yemeni-Iranian brotherly relations, affirming Yemen’s keenness on developing and improving them in different spheres as well.

The President welcomed Iranian investments in Yemen, clarifying that they will be met with care and encouragement.

Larijani arrived in Sana’a last Wednesday for an official visit in response to an invitation from the Yemeni Speaker of the parliament Yahya al-Raie.

Furthermore, Iranian Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki expressed Iran’s support of Yemen’s unity and stability last Monday. “The Islamic Republic of Iran is keen to see the progress, security, and prosperity of Yemen,” he said.

Ali Larijani, Speaker of the Iranian Shoura Council

Speaking in a meeting with Yemeni Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Muthana Hassan, Mottaki stressed, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has always been committed to the consolidation of its friendship and the deepening of its cooperation with Yemen and, on the same basis, it wants progress, security and prosperity for Yemen.”

Mottaki pointed to the positive economic and political ties between the two countries as a strong indicator of their relationship, and called for enhancing bilateral talks and meetings at all levels.  “The Islamic Republic of Iran is pursuing an honest and friendly approach towards Yemen, and this is the most important basis for the two countries’ relations”, Mottaki said.

During the meeting, Mottaki pointed out that regular exchanges between the two countries’ officials have led to the deepening of relations between the two Muslim nations. The strengthening of Iranian-Yemeni relations and cooperation is based on principles shared by both countries, he said, reiterating that strong and positive relations between Iran and Yemen will help to prevent any misunderstanding between the two nations.

“We feel brotherhood and friendship with the great Iranian nation and we believe that Iran wants nothing but the best for us, and in return, we want nothing but the best for Iran”, he added.

Meanwhile, here in Sana’a, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, Mohammed al-Shadadi, and the Iranian Ambassador to Yemen, Mahmoud Zada, discussed arrangements for the expected visit of Iranian Islamic Consultative Assembly Speaker, Ali Larijani, to Yemen. Larrijani is expected to arrive in Sana’a in the forthcoming days in an official visit to Yemen in response to an invitation from the Yemeni Speaker of the Parliament, Yahya al-Rae’i. The two officials expected that the visit would contribute to opening horizons for strengthening bilateral ties between the two fraternal countries, particularly in the parliamentary field.

During the meeting, the Ambassador confirmed Iran’s support for Yemen’s unity since its declaration on May 22, 1990. He also affirmed Iran’s support for the continued development of Yemen, as well as strengthening democracy in the country.

In related news, Prince Saud Alfaisal, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a press conference held last Monday said, “Yemeni unity is precious to all people in the Gulf region, and Yemen’s stability represents stability for the entire region.”

Prince Saud Alfaisal then spoke on the value of the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. He proposed a joint vision to develop Yemen’s relations with all neighboring Arabian countries.

In the Press conference that Prince Alfaisal held with the Dutch Foreign Minister, Alfaisal said that Yemen and Saudi Arabia’s stability depends on each other, and that any change in the stability of Yemen would affect Saudi Arabia, and vise versa. Alfaisal said that there is a strong relationship between his country and Yemen on social, security, and economic levels, describing the relationship as brotherly and of mutual interests.

“We hope Yemen will be fine, as anything that harms Yemen will harm us. The sacrifices that Yemen had to make in the past in order to reach unity gives us hope that Yemen will overcome any crisis that it faces today,” Alfaisal said.

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