Pro-Houthi Persian ploy: Iran welcomes ceasefire in Yemen

Mouaz Mohamed

Iran has unexpectedly welcomed the continued ceasefire in Yemen during the holy month of Ramadan, which was announced by the Arab Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen on Friday, April 24.

At a press conference in Tehran on Monday, April 27, government spokesman Ali Rabiei called for a comprehensive plan for peace and security, especially in light of the current corona virus pandemic, noting that his country considers the month of Ramadan “a valuable opportunity to wake up the region.”

The Saudi-led Arab coalition, which is carrying out military operations in Yemen in support of the recognized government headed by Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi in his war against the Houthis, announced the extension of the complete ceasefire for a month, as of April 23.

According to coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Maliki, this decision was taken based on the previous announcement on April 8 for a two-week ceasefire, in addition to the request of Martin Griffiths, the UN secretary-general’s special envoy to Yemen, to provide an opportunity for progress to be made in negotiations between the two parties on a permanent ceasefire, as well as an agreement on the most important economic and humanitarian measures and the resumption of the political process.

Tehran’s welcome of the ceasefire raises doubts about its support for the Houthis in Yemen and whether it could give up on them, especially in light of Iran’s economy collapsing due to the spread of the corona virus.

Iranian ploy

Yemeni affairs researcher Mahmoud al-Tahir told the Reference that Iran welcoming Saudi Arabia’s decision to implement a ceasefire might be a ploy, suggesting that Tehran would not back down on its support of the Houthis.

It is also likely that Iran’s behavior could be aimed at opening negotiations with Riyadh in light of the ceasefire, but in order for the Houthi vision to be heard, which calls for Saudi Arabia to permanently withdraw from Yemen, so as to complete Tehran’s project in Sanaa, Tahir said, noting that Riyadh would never accept this situation.