United nations: A Chinese envoy on Monday expressed serious concern over the escalating tensions surrounding Yemen's Sanaa International Airport and called for de-escalation in the war-torn country. China calls on all parties concerned to remain calm and exercise restraint to avoid further escalation, said Sun Lei, the charge d'affaires of China's Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
According to Nam News Network, Sun emphasized that the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of all countries in the Middle East and the Gulf region, including Yemen, should be respected. He urged that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter be upheld and that civilians, humanitarian workers, and civilian objects be protected during an emergency meeting of the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East.
In his briefing to the Security Council, UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari reported that an Iranian aircraft carrying a Houthi delegation was diverted on Monday to Hodeidah airport, which the Houthis control, after Sanaa International Airport came under airstrikes. The Houthis attributed the strikes on Sanaa airport to Saudi Arabia and announced the "end of the de-escalation phase" with Riyadh.
Sun mentioned that the issue of Yemen is closely linked to the overall situation in the Middle East, where tensions have been escalating. He expressed concern over the challenges faced by the ceasefire arrangement reached between the United States and Iran, emphasizing that a renewed outbreak of hostilities serves no one's interests and that military means cannot resolve the issues.
Sun urged the United States and Iran to faithfully implement the memorandum of understanding they have signed, refrain from making threatening statements or resorting to the use of force, and work towards ending the hostilities and conflict. He called on all parties involved in the Yemen issue to refrain from actions that could escalate the situation or undermine mutual trust, in order to prevent new conflicts.
China also called on the United States and Iran to resume follow-up negotiations as soon as possible and reach a comprehensive agreement that is accepted by both sides, regional countries, and the international community. Sun highlighted the importance of resuming safe and free passage through the Strait of Hormuz and addressing navigation issues through a proper settlement.
Sun concluded by stating that countries in the Middle East and the Gulf region are interdependent neighbors whose geography cannot be changed. He urged the international community to respect the history and cultural traditions of the Middle East, support regional countries in maintaining strategic autonomy and improving mutual relations, and replace confrontation with cooperation to achieve lasting peace.