On Yemen, Iran Replies to Saudi Letter to UNSC, UN Plane Threatened?

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS,  September 17 -- The UN Secretariat of Ban Ki-moon's bungling of Yemen mediation has become ever more clear, according to multiple sources and documents exclusively seen by Inner City Press, see below.

On August 18, Inner City Press exclusively published the proposal that Ban's envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed made in Kuwait. This was the proposal described as blatantly one-sided that led to a collapse of the talks, the Saudi-led Coalition increased airstrikes and the death of more civilians. 

According to local media, here, the Saudis theatened to shoot down UN aircraft - click here. Would the UN go public if this were true? No, under Ban Ki-moon.

On September 14 the Saudi ambassador to the UN wrote to the UN Security Council to complain - belatedly, in the case of events of August 31 - of attacks from Yemen, saying Saudi Arabia reaffirms “its right to take all appropriate measures.” Letter posted on Facebook, here. But they've already been engaged in airstrikes all over. Some have wondered what the response to Javad Zarif's op-ed in the New York Times would be.

Now there is a response to the Saudi letter, from the Iranian mission to the UN:

"The Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations categorically rejects the allegations, as contained in Saudi Arabia’s letter to the President of the Security Council, dated 14 September 2016, regarding arms transfers to Yemen and violations of Security Council Resolution  2216

This letter includes unsubstantiated claims that have not been verified by any independent entity. These   claims are raised against the numerous confirmed reports, documenting Saudi Arabia’s war crimes and violation of international law and international humanitarian law. Saudi Arabia has engaged in a year and a half long wide ranging, non proportionate and irrational war against the people of Yemen, where they have undeniably committed crimes against defenseless women and children. Saudi Arabia has also decimated much of Yemen’s civilian infrastructure and not hesitated to destroy schools and hospitals.
 
It is surprising that Saudi Arabia would complain to the United Nations about the use of weapons in Yemen even while Saudi Arabia itself has purchased tens of billions in arms that it is using against the Yemeni people.
 
The Islamic Republic of Iran does not believe in a military solution in Yemeni and has always urged for cessation of hostilities, dialogue and resort to legal and peaceful mechanisms to achieve a peaceful resolution to this conflict. "

Meanwhile, Inner City Press is told of a Yemen meeting in UNGA week, convened by the UK - at 7:30 pm. It's never too early when it gets this late. We'll have more on this. Watch this site.

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