Strait of Hormuz talks postponed due to Yemen events, says Iran

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei says Iran does not interfere in Yemeni affairs.Iran says a planned meeting with officials from Gulf states to discuss the Strait of Hormuz has been postponed due to “events unfolding in Yemen”.Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, addressing a news conference on Monday, said Oman and Iran “have taken a joint decision aimed at arriving at a responsible” approach to the management of the strait.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3A dignified life is a ‘distant dream’ for many Iranian families amid US warlist 2 of 3BRICS summit: What are the key takeaways?list 3 of 3The Houthis’ escalation in Yemen could flopend of listHe said the meeting, scheduled to take place in Oman, would have been an “opportunity to demonstrate the significance of these decisions”.“Had this meeting took place, it would have been a very suitable opportunity [to discuss the new policy]. I do not believe any responsible country would accept in any shape, way, or form to be dictated to or be subjected to pressure from any outside forces,” he said.The Strait of Hormuz, which falls in Iran and Oman’s territorial waters, has been effectively blocked by Tehran amid the US-Israel war on the country.Baghaei said Iran has “no relations whatsoever with what is unfolding in Yemen”, adding Tehran does not interfere in its affairs. He added that Saudi Arabia requested the postponement of the meeting.Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen have escalated since July, when Houthis, who control large parts of Yemen, declared a naval blockade on their northwestern neighbour. Clashes escalated last week as Houthis seized the port of Mocha, tightening their control over the Bab al-Mandeb strait.Attacks on shippingMeanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Monday that its forces had intercepted and destroyed an advanced MQ-1 drone over the Strait of Hormuz.