Grundberg concludes his visit to Iran by warning against undermining peace efforts in Yemen

The UN Special Envoy to Yemen warned in a statement that regional developments could undermine efforts to achieve peace in Yemen. He called for de-escalation and avoiding further deterioration at the regional level.

Yemen has been gripped by a new military escalation since mid-March, when new US President Trump announced the launch of an intensive military campaign against the Houthi militias, aimed at weakening their military capabilities. The operation has so far resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries. Trump described it as achieving its goals to a very large extent.

The US administration accuses the Houthi militia of threatening its maritime interests and military forces in the region. It also accuses Iran of militarily supporting their Houthi allies, and Trump has also threatened Iran with"unprecedented bombardment" if it does not reach an agreement with them on its nuclear program.

The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, paid a brief visit to Iran, during which he met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Director-General Mohammad Ali Bek, and several members of the diplomatic corps residing in Tehran, to discuss recent developments in Yemen and the region.

At the conclusion of the visit, Grundberg issued a statement on Sunday (March 30) in which he stressed the urgent need to de-escalate and avoid further deterioration in the regional political and security landscape. He also emphasized the importance of concerted international and regional efforts to support a peaceful and sustainable solution to the conflict in Yemen, which has been suffering from an ongoing conflict for more than ten years.

He added, "The recent escalation in Yemen highlights the need to strengthen efforts to achieve stability in Yemen and pave the way for a sustainable future by addressing the influential regional dynamics."

The envoy urged "all concerned parties to contribute to creating conditions that not only open the door to mediation, but also address the urgent issues at hand."

He also reiterated the United Nations' commitment to working with all concerned parties to create the necessary environment for dialogue and to help ensure that regional developments do not undermine efforts and progress towards achieving peace in Yemen.