Iran offers to mediate between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen

(CNN) - Iran affirmed its adherence to its position calling for resolving the differences between Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni Houthi group through dialogue and diplomatic channels, expressing its readiness to play a mediation role if the two parties request it.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ismail Baghaei, said on Friday evening, “The Islamic Republic of Iran is firm on its principled position on the Yemeni issue, and is ready to help resolve the issues between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis peacefully,” according to what was reported by the official Iranian “IRNA” news agency.

Baghaei added, "The Islamic Republic of Iran is fully prepared to exert its good offices to help end the conflicts, and is prepared to harness all its capabilities for this purpose if the two parties request it."

He continued, "Foreign intervention, the military approach, and the blockade are not solutions to the Yemeni problem. The Yemeni people have suffered from the sea and air blockade imposed on their country for more than a decade, and have endured the consequences of this unjust blockade with great patience. It is a blockade imposed by external parties, especially Britain and America. But it is expected that the countries of the region and the Islamic world will work to end this situation," according to the "IRNA" agency.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said that Iran rejects any claim that it played a role in the Yemeni operations, and stresses that resolving the Yemeni issue requires respecting the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of this country, stopping any interference in its internal affairs, and most important of all, ending the air and sea blockade imposed on it.

Baqaei stressed that his country does not believe that escalating tensions is in the interest of any party.