TEHRAN – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has described Saudi Arabia’s attacks on Yemen as “unfair” and a “big strategic mistake”.

He made the remarks in a ceremony named “Compassionate Human, Peaceful World” in Tehran on Saturday.

He stated that Saudi Arabia’s attack on Yemen is not a war but an “unfair attack” of a neighboring country on “the impoverished people” of a developing country.

He called the new Saudi rulers politically naïve who are not aware of regional and international issues.

“A government which is novice and does not understand regional and international issues after many years is seeking a showoff,” the president noted.


The president said the Saudis which have always advanced their policies through “dollar” have suddenly chosen “the path of bomb” to show that they are powerful and influential in the region and this is “a big strategic mistake”.

He also said, “Yemen is historical test for the world; if our grief for Yemen is not equal to our grief to a certain European or Asian country, obviously we have violated all the principles of humanity, the Red Cross [the International Committee of the Red Cross] and the Red Crescent.”

The Iranian president added that the Red Crescent society and the International Committee of the Red Cross should not make any difference in helping the Yemeni people or any other country.

He thanked the Iranian Red Crescent Society for sending aid to Yemen.

Some efforts to send humanitarian aid to Yemen were hampered due to actions that run contrary to international regulations, Rouhani said, adding that the International Committee of the Red Cross should be pressed to help the Yemenis.

Recently, Saudi Arabian jet fighters intercepted Iranian cargo planes which were carrying food and medicine to the Yemeni people.

NA/PA