The Yemeni deputy foreign minister blames the collapse of aid to Yemen on the war in Iran

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Yemen recognized by the international community, Mustafa Noman, has reaffirmed this Monday the Government’s position of total rejection of the war in Iran, warning of the “negative” consequences in the region and the drastic interruption of humanitarian aid for the country as a consequence of the serious economic losses suffered by countries issuing aid to Yemen.

Noman indicated during an interview with Europa Press at the Casa Arab headquarters in Madrid that the impact of the conflict in Iran on Yemen has not been “direct” through the Strait of Hormuz – where hundreds of ships remain stranded waiting to cross – but rather is manifested in the cutback of international assistance.

“The countries that used to help Yemen are now very busy with the consequences of the war in Iran and this means that they do not allocate the humanitarian aid that they did before,” he said, referring to the fact that the losses have caused the drop in humanitarian aid flows destined for both Yemen and other nations.

Recently, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned that more than 22 million people – about half of them women and girls – will need humanitarian assistance and protection” in 2026 in Yemen, which also includes internally displaced persons, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers.

Noman, who stated that “the war has negative consequences on the entire region”, recalled that Yemeni commercial traffic does not use the Strait of Hormuz, but rather the Red Sea through ports such as Aden or Hodeida.

Hormuz, therefore, does not have the same strategic importance for the country that it has for the markets of Europe or East Asia and even Yemen can resort to alternative routes, thus allowing the flow of goods to be diverted by land through Saudi Arabia, explained Noman.

“Iran’s decision to impose tariffs or taxes on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz is an illegal measure. International maritime passages should be transited freely without any type of payment in return,” he said.

In late April, Yemen’s Houthi authorities, the Iran-allied insurgency that controls the capital, Sanaa, and much of the country, threatened to launch a campaign of attacks against the Bab el Mandeb Strait, further strangling global trade as Tehran is doing with its hold on Hormuz.

ON THE RECENT PRISONER AGREEMENT

On the other hand, Noman has stated that the recent agreement reached with Yemen’s Houthi rebels to release more than 1,600 detainees in the context of the war in the country represents a “good step” towards lasting peace in the country.

“The prisoner exchange has been the result of two years of preparation and work with the help of the UN special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg. The Government has always wanted this exchange to take place, but with the release of everyone, without exception and without conditions,” he argued.

However, progress towards a broader peace process requires compliance with other requirements that he has classified as “fundamental”, such as full recognition and compliance with the country’s Constitution, as well as the complete laying down of weapons by the Houthi militias.

“We are willing to start talks, but subject to compliance with these two conditions,” he stated, also adding that this latest prisoner agreement, the largest since the beginning of contacts between the parties as a result of the conflict unleashed in 2014, “is part of the process of building trust” between the parties.

Although he has stated that “there is nothing that could imply a guarantee or commitment on the part of the Houthis” – since many of the previous agreements have been violated or not respected – this represents a gesture of “good intentions” between the parties.

Regarding the United Nations workers detained by the Houthis, Noman pointed out that this issue has not been discussed between the parties in the last exchange, although there have been contacts between the UN and the rebel group on the matter.

The release, in which the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will participate, will benefit 1,100 Houthis, as well as 580 members of the Yemeni forces and their allies, including “seven Saudi prisoners and 20 Sudanese prisoners.”