NEW YORK (AP) – Secretary of State John Kerry says he will use a meeting with his Iranian counterpart to urge Iran to push the Shiite rebels it supports in Yemen back to the negotiating table.
Kerry said he would raise the issue with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif when they see each later Monday. While the meeting will primarily focus on nuclear talks, Kerry said he would bring up Yemen because of Iran’s role in backing the Houthi rebels. He said the Houthis used a pause in Saudi-led airstrikes that was intended to provide space for talks on a political solution to increase the territory under their control.
Kerry said he would “certainly urge that everybody do their part to try to reduce the violence and allow the negotiations to begin.”