According to the Iranian news agency IRNA, Mohammed Abdulsalam, head of the Yemeni government's negotiating delegation, refuted claims that Yemen refused to meet with Saudi Arabia in Oman. Abdulsalam stated that Yemen had repeatedly demanded that Saudi Arabia lift its blockade and address humanitarian issues according to the roadmap, and that Yemen had proposed several solutions, but Saudi Arabia had consistently failed to take substantive action. Before and after the escalation of the situation, Yemen maintained communication with Saudi Arabia through direct and indirect channels.
He criticized Saudi Arabia for using changes in the regional situation and Yemen's involvement in the "Aqsa Floods" operation as reasons to justify continuing its commitments to Yemen. He added that Saudi Arabia was also attempting to force Yemen to accept demands it could not achieve through military means by increasing humanitarian and economic pressure. Regarding the Saudi attack on Sana'a airport in July, Abdulsalam said that Yemen had previously warned of the potentially serious consequences and requested facilitation for the negotiating delegation's return, but Saudi Arabia maintained its original position. He emphasized that the attack was provocative and brought an end to the ceasefire and de-escalation efforts.
Earlier, AFP quoted a Saudi Foreign Ministry official as saying that the Yemeni government had rejected Riyadh's request in recent weeks to hold a meeting in Oman. The official did not disclose details of the request or the reasons for Yemen's rejection, only stating that the situation reflected the continued obstacles to advancing the political process in Yemen.
