Yemen: 3 days ceasefire..Iran welcomes

The warring parties in Yemen have agreed to a 72-hour cease-fire that will take effect shortly before midnight Wednesday, the U.N. special envoy to Yemen told The Associated Press.

Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said he hopes the temporary truce can lead to “permanent and lasting end to the conflict.”

Ould Cheikh Ahmed also outlined in a statement Monday that he received assurances from all parties to the conflict o cease hostilities at 11:59 p.m. local time on Wednesday for an initial period of 72 hours that is subject to renewal.

The cease-fire agreement requires all combatants to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Yemenis across the country, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement.

“We ask the parties to take all steps necessary to advance the implementation of this cessation, call on them to sustain it, and strongly encourage its unconditional renewal,” Kerry said.

The agreement will also enable Cheikh Ahmed to continue his work to renew peace negotiations as soon as possible, Kerry said.

On Monday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that his countrey is prepared to agree to a ceasefire in Yemen if the Iran-allied Houthis agree.
“We would like to see a ceasefire yesterday,” Jubeir told reporters in London on Monday October 17, and added “Everybody wants a ceasefire in Yemen, nobody more so than the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the coalition members.”

On the other hand, Iranian Foreign Minister Spokesperson Bahram Ghasemi has appreciated the UN announcemen ofthree-day ceasefire in Yemen .

He further urged all warring parties in Yemen to allow immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to the oppressed people of Yemen and war victims, including those injured in the recent attacks on Sana’a.