Pakistan, Iran Must Work Together on Yemen: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Wednesday that Pakistan and Iran should cooperate to solve the crisis in Yemen.

"We need to work together to find a political solution," Zarif said during a two-day visit to Islamabad in which he was expected to urge Pakistan to reject a Saudi request to join a military operation against Houthi forces in Yemen. Some of the Houthi rebels have links to Iran.

"The people of Yemen should not have to face aerial bombardment," he said, referring to air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition that started last month.

Zarif said he favoured a four-part plan to impose a ceasefire in Yemen, deliver humanitarian assistance and then establish a broad-based dialogue and finally a broad-based government. He recommended this to Pakistani, Turkish and Omani leaders, he said.

Pakistani members of parliament on Wednesday spent a third day debating the Saudi request, with all speakers so far arguing against militarily involvement in Yemen.