Yemen submits UN complaint after Iran posts ambassador to Houthi-held Sanaa

The internationally-recognised government described the move as a violation of international law and Security Council resolutions, and accused Tehran of smuggling in an official to represent Iran as an ambassador to the Houthi rebels.

"The action constitutes a breach of Iran's internaitional obligations under the United Nations charter, the Vienna Conventions on the Diplomatic Consular Relationship and Security Council resolutions," the complaint said.

It constitutes dangerous precedents that affect the essence of the rights of members states of the United Nations and allows rogue states and regime to enable rebels to violate state sovereignty,” the statement added.

Any actions issued in Yemen’s name by the “occupied embassy” in Tehran are considered null, the statement warned.

The Iranian foreign ministry on Saturday said Hassan Eyrlou, “ambassador for the Islamic Republic of Iran in Yemen, has arrived in Sanaa.”

"He has presented his letters of credentials to Mehdi al-Mashat, head of Yemen's supreme political council," he added, referring to an executive body formed by Houthi rebels.

Iran backs the Houthis in Yemen's civil war against an internationally recognised government that is supported by a Saudi-led military coalition. 

The recognised government has been based in Yemen's second city, Aden, for the past five years, after the Houthis seized the capital.

Eyrlou's predecessor left Sanaa in September 2015 and in October last year Iran's foreign ministry said the process of sending a new ambassador was hindered by "attacks on the embassy".

Read also: Iran says UN arms embargo on Tehran has been lifted

Iran is the only country to hold diplomatic relations with the Houthis.

Fars news agency did not specify when or how the ambassador had reached Sanaa, but the announcement came shortly after more than 1,000 prisoners were freed in a landmark exchange between the warring sides in Yemen.

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