Pezeshkian: Iran ready to help resolve Yemen dispute

Pezeshkian: Iran ready to help resolve Yemen dispute

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for dialogue between Yemen’s Houthi movement and Saudi Arabia, saying Tehran is prepared to help resolve differences between the two sides.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Pezeshkian said the conflict in Yemen should be addressed through political engagement rather than confrontation. He also rejected claims that Iran directs developments in Yemen, arguing that the situation there is not linked to Tehran.

Pezeshkian said Iran stands in solidarity with people facing what it considers injustice, while stressing that his country does not seek to promote war in the region.

“Iran will not be warmongers,” he said, adding that “a brother should not fight a brother.” He maintained that regional disputes should be settled through dialogue and diplomatic efforts.

The Iranian president also addressed the strategic Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran’s decision to restrict access to the waterway represented a response to what he described as the blocking of Iran’s options.

“Closing the Strait of Hormuz is a natural response when paths are blocked for Iran,” Pezeshkian said.

He further criticised US sanctions and argued that those who believed economic pressure would turn the Iranian population against its government had miscalculated.

According to Pezeshkian, the United States and Israel sought to prevent Iran from becoming self-reliant. He said Tehran would instead focus on strengthening its domestic capabilities and investing in its people.

The Iranian president also claimed that Washington and Tel Aviv had drawn other countries in the region into the conflict after assuming that Iran’s government would collapse within days. He portrayed the continuation of Iran’s political system as evidence that those expectations had not materialised.

Meanwhile, Pezeshkian said Iran has developed a new proposal aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and that the plan received the backing of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

State media reported that Pezeshkian discussed the proposal during an interview with US broadcaster CBS. He said Iran would honour its commitments if the United States agreed to the terms of the proposal.

The comments come as tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz remain high. The strategically important waterway serves as a major route for global energy shipments, making developments around it a significant regional and international concern.