Tehran holds Sanaa accountable for diplomat's safety

The Iranian government on Monday stated it holds Sanaa responsible for the safety of its kidnapped diplomat, and Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Araqchi said, "The Foreign Ministry had summoned the Yemeni charge d'affaires in Sanaa and informed him his country is responsible for the safety of the diplomat and must intensify effort to ascertain his whereabouts." Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Salehi had phoned his Yemeni counterpart yesterday and demanded the Yemeni Government spare no effort for the release of the kidnapped Iranian. During said phone communication, Yemeni FM Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi expressed regret over the abduction and stressed the government was doing all in its power to find and release the diplomat. He added initial measures to identify the kidnappers were taken. The Iranian administrative attache was kidnapped near his home yesterday by an unknown militant group. There is still no claim of responsibility for the abduction.