‘Saudi’s ban of aid delivery to Yemen triable in intl. courts’

TEHRAN, Apr. 26 (MNA) – Advisor to Iran's Majlis Speaker said Saudi’s interception of Iranian aid flights to Yemen was a crime against humanity and must be prosecuted in international courts. Hossein Sheikholeslam, advisor to Iran's Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani on international affairs, told Mehr News correspondent, “Suadi’s military aggression against Yemen was a foolish attack against the innocent and defenseless people of this country, against all standards of international rights and without any consultation with other countries.” Noting that the airstrikes that were carried out in a bid to restore power to fugitive former President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who is a close ally of Riyadh, have only deepened the Yemenis’ abhorrence of their president, adding “one who has appealed to foreign countries to kill his own country’s people, how would he be even able to return to power and does he even have the courage now to return? Saudi’s goal for the airstrikes is definitely out of reach now.” Sheikholeslam asserted the killing of innocent Yemenis has turned the Muslim world and the world’s public opinion against Saudi Arabia, adding “even after their declaration of ceasefire, the Saudis are still carrying out their attacks and have rendered their own words invalid. They had said at first some coalition countries approved of the attacks but those countries have all declared their disapproval.” Sheikholeslam condemned Saudi Arabia for prohibiting the delivery of humanitarian aid to Yemen even after the ceasefire, saying “this is a crime against humanity and can be tried in international courts.” Saudi Arabia started its military aggression against Yemen on March 26 - without a UN mandate - in a bid to restore power to the fugitive former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who is a close ally of Riyadh. According to reports, nearly 1,000 people have been killed during the aggression. Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned the Saudi charge d’affaires on Friday to protest Riyadh's interception of two Iranian planes carrying treated Yemeni women and children, as well as humanitarian and medical aid to Yemen.