Iran says it backs Yemen peace talks in Sweden

Iran has said it backs UN efforts to end the war in Yemen.

"Iran welcomes the talks in Sweden... Tehran is ready to help international talks to end the crisis and underlines the importance of accelerating providing humanitarian aid to the people," Iran's foreign ministry said in a statement, according to Reuters. 

The UN is due to hold talks between Yemen's warring parties in Sweden this month, as the international community seeks to end the war which escalated in 2015 with the intervention of the Saudi-led coalition.

The talks could begin by Wednesday, Reuters reported.

Iran backs the Houthi rebels who are fighting the internationally-recognised government, although it is not clear what material support Tehran provides the rebels.

The Saudi-led coalition, which controls the skies and sea around Yemen, on Monday said it would allow Houthi fighters to be evacuated from the war-torn country.

This was one of the rebels' conditions for the talks in Yemen, with UN special envoy Martin Griffiths leading the negotiations.

Another condition was that the Houthis' aircraft due to travel to Sweden should not be inspected by the Saudi-led coalition.

Yemen is on the brink of famine due to food and medicine not being able enter the country. Rights groups say as many as 50,000 people have died in the war.