Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK and US Urge Iran to End Threats to the Region

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, US and the UK have expressed concern over growing tensions in the Middle East and the Iranian regime’s destabilizing activities in Yemen and the Gulf area, including attacks on oil tankers off the coast of Fujairah on May 12 and in the Gulf of Oman on June 13.

During a meeting held in London, representatives from the four countries condemned the Houthi attack on Abha Airport in southern Saudi Arabia earlier this month, which injured 26 people.

In a statement, they called on Iran to stop any further actions that threaten regional stability, and urged diplomatic solutions to reduce tensions.

Iran’s Houthi militias should end all restrictions on food aid deliveries to Sanaa from the World Food Programme to ensure the delivery of life-saving assistance to people in need, said the statement.

The four countries reiterated their commitment to the Yemeni peace process and relevant Security Council Resolutions, including UNSCR 2216, and expressed full support for UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths.

“We call on the Yemeni parties to engage constructively with the Special Envoy to accelerate implementation of the agreements reached in Stockholm. We call on the Houthis to facilitate full and unhindered access for UNMHA, UNDP and UNVIM,” they said.

"We call on the Houthis to withdraw fully from the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa and Saleef and we look to the Security Council to review progress when they meet on July 17," they added.