Deputy FM calls on Yemen to bring assassins of Iranian diplomat to justice

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian voiced concern over the security conditions in Yemen, and urged the country's officials to make their utmost efforts to identify the main perpetrators behind the assassination of Iran's diplomat Abolqassem Assadi in Sana’a. “The Yemeni government is responsible for securing the safety of Iranian nationals and diplomats, and it is necessary that Yemen launches investigation into Abolqassem Assadi’s death as soon as possible,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian said on Monday. On Saturday, Assadi was gunned down by unknown gunmen outside his home in the Yemeni capital. A few hours later, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham announced that the Iranian diplomat had succumbed to his injuries. Afkham expressed deep regret over the death of the Iranian diplomat, and explained, “A terrorist group attacked an Iranian embassy’s diplomat in a Sana’a street and tried to kidnap him, but due to the resistance shown by the diplomat they have started shooting at him.” Afkham strongly condemned the Saturday terrorist attack on the Iranian diplomat, and said, “Iran is seriously following up the terrorist attack with the concerned Yemeni officials.” Also, in July 2013, unknown assailants abducted the Iranian embassy staff member, Nikbakht, in Safr street in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a.