War-weary Yemenis greet Saudi-Iran deal with caution – Al Jazeera English
Sanaa, Yemen Like thousands of Yemeni parents, Ali Mohammed has lost children fighting in the countrys long-running war.
But in his case, one son, Fahd, died in 2018 fighting for the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, while the other, Nashwan, died the following year fighting for their enemies, the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels.
Now, Saudi Arabia and Iran have agreed to restore diplomatic ties after years of tensions,leaving Yemenis like Mohammed surprised and confused.
Today, they are ready to be friends, offer concessions to meet their interests, while our country is awash with ordeals, said Mohammed, a resident of the capital, Sanaa, which has been under Houthi control since 2014.
The Chinese-brokered rapprochement announced by Saudi Arabia and Iran last week in Beijing came after several rounds of talks, including in Iraq and Oman.
It will lead to the reopening of their respective embassies within two months and the activation of a security cooperation arrangement, with the two regional powerhouses pledging to respect state sovereignty and not interfere in each others internal affairs.
But while Riyadh and Tehran may have moved to bury some of their differences, it is unclear whether the same will happen in war-scarred Yemen.
Saudi Arabia has led a military intervention in Yemen since 2015 in support of the internationally recognised government fighting the Houthis. Iran, meanwhile, has said it supports the rebels politically but denies sending them weapons, as alleged by Saudi Arabia and others. The Houthis in recent years have targeted a number of oil facilities and airports in Saudi Arabia and its coalition partner, the United Arab Emirates.
On Monday, the Yemeni government and the Houthis announced that they had agreed upon a prisoner swap that would also include the release of 15 captured Saudis. It was not immediately clear whether the timing of the announcement was coincidental or not, but questions remained over any other confidence-building measures on the back of the Beijing deal.
Adel Dashela, a Yemeni political researcher and author, said he did not believe the Saudi-Iran normalisation would turn Yemen into a stable country overnight.
I do not think the Saudi-Iran agreement will largely affect the Yemeni file, Dashela told Al Jazeera. It is not easy to end the Houthi takeover of Sanaa, retrieve the state weapons they seized and force them to abandon the use of weapons.
Commenting on the potential motives for reaching an agreement, he pointed to Saudi Arabias security needs and Irans internal crises and the impact of the sanctions imposed by the United States.
That is why the two sides agreed to make concessions and resume relations.
The war in Yemen has killed hundreds of thousands of people, displaced millions and caused the worlds worst humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations. More than 23.4 million people, or three-quarters of Yemens population, require assistance, including 2.2 million youngsters who are acutely malnourished.
Abdulrahman, a 53-year-old retired military officer in Sanaa, said the Saudi-Iran deal reminded Yemenis that their countrys plight is due to the lack of united leadership.
Should the country have seasoned and wise political leaders, we would not plummet into this chaos in the first place and let foreign powers control our fate, said Abdulrahman, who did not want to give his full name.
He said the massive casualty figures after years of fighting have exacerbated the warring sides animosity.
The Yemeni proxies have been willing to commit to their regional backers instructions in pursuit of military and political victories. That is why our country has been a hub of humanitarian suffering.
Meanwhile, both the Houthis and the Yemeni government welcomed the Riyadh-Tehran detente, expressing their desire for peace.
The region needs the resumption of normal ties between its countries, said the Houthis chief negotiator, Mohammed Abdulsalam.
Likewise, the government said it always has faith in dialogue and diplomatic approaches for resolving disputes. In its statement, the government hoped that the Saudi-Iran deal would form a new regional relationship phase.
For Abdulrahman, such statements did not come as a surprise.
They [Houthis and the government] are obedient forces, unopposed to the Saudi and Iranian initiatives and plans.
He said it was normal for a country to forge alliances in its region and beyond, but added that these relations should not render our country servile to any foreign power.
That is what Yemens elites failed to do, Abdulrahman said.
Mohammed, meanwhile, said he felt Yemen had been betrayed.
They have put Yemen on fire for seven years in pursuit of their conflicting agenda, said the grieving father. Today, they begin a new chapter of cooperation and partnership. So, what were they fighting for in Yemen?
Read more:
War-weary Yemenis greet Saudi-Iran deal with caution - Al Jazeera English
- Netanyahu says hes confident hostage deal can be reached, Iran in deep trouble - The Times of Israel - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- In US, Iran strikes afterglow buys Netanyahu time to carry on ineffective Gaza war - The Times of Israel - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Iran sees chance for nuclear deal with U.S. even after attacks - The Washington Post - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Israeli F-15 malfunctioned above Iran in war, just avoided emergency landing report - The Times of Israel - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Iran vows Israel will 'pay the price' for 'assassination' attempt on president - Ynetnews - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Putin urges Iran to take 'zero enrichment' nuclear deal with US, Axios reports - Reuters - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Open letter to Thomas Friedman: Calls for diplomacy with Iran have poor timing - opinion - The Jerusalem Post - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- How the 12-day Israel-Iran war could rebuild the Middle East - The Hill - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Putin said to tell Trump, Iran that he backs deal barring Tehran from enriching uranium - The Times of Israel - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Iran Says Its Considering US Offer to Restart Nuclear Talks - Bloomberg - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- What will it take to end Iran's nuke program? An army. - The Japan Times - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Russia Slams Report It Urged Iran To Agree To Zero enrichment As 'defamation' - i24NEWS - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Iran: Israel Will Pay the Price for Allegedly Trying to Kill Pezeshkian - Algemeiner.com - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- The cost of assumptions: Iran, Oct. 7 and the power of a conceptzia - JNS.org - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Tehran dreams of a country like Israel, and Tel Aviv fears becoming Iran - The Jerusalem Post - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- FM Araqchi says Iran to work with IAEA, but inspections may be risky - Reuters - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Opinion | Whats Trumps Next Move on Iran? - The Wall Street Journal - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Rep. Omar on Minnesota shootings, Iran and So Called 'Big, Beautiful Bill' - House.gov - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Why is it easier to defeat a big power like Iran than the Palestinians? - JNS.org - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Satellite images show damage at the US base Iran attacked with ballistic missiles one of which hit it - Business Insider - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Pentagon confirms Iran's attack on Qatar air base hit dome used for US communications - Australian Broadcasting Corporation - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators Results From Iran Strike Will Inform Its Future: Defense Officials - The War Zone - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Iran threat to UK is significant and rising, lawmakers say - Reuters - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Emerging from the Israel-Iran war - Al Jazeera - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Mass arrests and executions: Kurds in Iran bear the brunt of war with Israel - Ynetnews - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Iran confirms it arrested 16-year-old French-German biker last month - The Times of Israel - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- The war lasted 12 days. The environmental impact on Iran may last decades - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Iran poses significant threat to United Kingdom, British lawmakers say in new report - The Times of Israel - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- A weakened Iran and Hezbollah gives Lebanon an opening to chart path away from the regions conflicts will it be enough? - The Conversation - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Trump brushes off Iran's assassination threat with a don't care attitude - Hindustan Times - Hindustan Times - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Son of couple held in Iran: 'They aren't spies, they're Mum and Dad' - BBC - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- China likely to strengthen backing for Iran as it looks to secure interests - South China Morning Post - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- How Turkey Views the Iran-Israel Confrontation - The Washington Institute - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- How the West Can Ensure Iran Never Gets the Bomb - The Atlantic - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Who Will Become the Next Supreme Leader of Iran? - NPR - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Israel Won the War It Fought. But Iran Emerged Victorious in the One That Mattered - Haaretz - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Russia vows to refill Iran's uranium stocks, as Netanyahu warns that enriched supply was unscathed during the war - New York Post - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Opinion | The Fallout From the Iran Strikes - WSJ - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Pakistans ability to thread the needle in relations with the US and Iran tested by the Israel-Iran war - Middle East Institute - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- How Israel tracked down and assassinated scientists involved in Iran's nuclear program - Le Monde.fr - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- The Limits of Russias Friendship: How Moscow Sees the Iran Crisis - CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- After US strikes, Iran is seeking closer ties to Europes pariah states - The Hill - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- A win for Tehran: experts assess Carlson's Iran interview - - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Time for Iran to make a no-enrichment nuclear deal - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Israeli officials think Trump could give them green light to attack Iran again - Axios - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- We didnt wipe them out: Why Iran is still dangerous even after key strikes - The Times of Israel - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Iran's president says Tehran open to dialogue with US, accuses Israel of assassination attempt - Reuters - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Israel said to expect US backing for future strikes on Iran if it revives nuclear program - The Times of Israel - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Trump all for Iran peace talks, but ready, willing and able to strike again - The Hill - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Witkoff promises new nuclear talks with Iran within a week; Trump says not sure they have a purpose - The Times of Israel - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Iran demands accountability for Israel and US after war of aggression - Al Jazeera - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Iran gets significant diplomatic boost from BRICS bloc with Russia and China - Newsweek - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- After setback to Iran's nuclear program, Trump expected to leverage military support in Netanyahu meeting - Fox News - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- A timeline of the Iran-Israel war - Tehran Times - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Turkey is the new Iran - www.israelhayom.com - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- US, Iran de-escalate rhetoric, nudge to talks but Tehran wary of Israels influence - The Arab Weekly - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Sen. Steve Daines says regime change is the best long-term plan in Iran - Fox News - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Why Iran emerged victorious in its war with Israel - Tehran Times - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Why has Iran stepped up its deportation of Afghan refugees? - Al Jazeera - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Iran alone in crises: Where were Russia, China in their time of need? - Euronews.com - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- The 12-day conflict is over: What is next for Iran? | Daily Sabah - Daily Sabah - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Iran President Accuses Israel of Assassination Attempt in Interview with Tucker Carlson - Algemeiner.com - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- I will never regret coming: Amid Israels devastating strikes on Iran, a woman traveling solo had to find her way out - CNN - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- A text, a Telegram link, then an offer of money: how Iran sought to recruit spies in Israel - The Guardian - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Tucker Carlson says to air interview with president of Iran - Reuters - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- CNN in Iran: Behind the scenes with our team - CNN - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- A fragile ceasefire in the Israel-Iran war tests the harmony of Los Angeles' huge Iranian community - AP News - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Nuclear Inspectors Leave Iran After Cooperation Halted With U.N. Watchdog - The New York Times - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Israel concealed information about Iran's destruction of five military sites, satellite images show - Tehran Times - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Only diplomacy will stop the atomic bomb: Reflections following the war against Iran - EL PAS English - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Readers sound off on what Iran achieved, Diddys jurors and Sen. Lisa Murkowski - New York Daily News - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- American Solo Traveler Was in Iran When It Was Bombed. She Documents How She Fled the Country (Exclusive) - People.com - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Iran hit five Israeli military bases in 12-day war The Telegraph - - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Why Hamas can keep fighting without Iran, and what that means for Israel - opinion - The Jerusalem Post - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Iran's uranium supply chain must be thwarted as nuclear program grows - The Jerusalem Post - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Why Im banned from Iran, Israel and the US despite breaking no rules - The Telegraph - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Why Trump stopped calling on Iran to surrender - The Spectator World - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- A week into the fragile Israel-Iran peace agreement, heres what we still dont know - AP News - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Dont look away from whats happening in Iran - The Boston Globe - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Its offensive: voices from Iran as fans face 2026 World Cup travel ban - The Guardian - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]