Muscat: Oman’s foreign minister Yousuf Bin Alawi met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif in Muscat on Monday.
A diplomatic source in Muscat told Gulf News that they discussed the crisis in Yemen, particularly ways to facilitate humanitarian relief for the Yemeni people.
They also discussed preparations for an upcoming conference in Geneva on June 14, which aims to gather rivaling parties.
Bin Alawi met with the Special UN Envoy to Yemen Esmail Ould Shaikh Ahmad on Saturday and the two were said to be ‘rallying support’ for the Geneva convention, according to a statement released by the Omani Foreign Ministry.
Oman is the only GCC country not participating in a Saudi-led coalition which has been launching air strikes on Al Houthi militiamen in Yemen. The aim of the coalition is to restore Yemen’s legitimate president Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi to power after an Al Houthi takeover last year. Oman sees itself as a neutral broker in the conflict and often hosts diplomats involved in negotiations, including Iran which is widely seen to back Al Houthi militants in Yemen.
