London, United Kingdom (CNN) – Two delegations of Saudi and Omani negotiators arrived in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, on Saturday, for talks with Houthi leaders, according to the pro-Houthi Yemeni news agency Saba.
The talks – involving high-level officials – are part of ongoing efforts to negotiate a permanent ceasefire between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, which has been at war in Yemen since 2015.
These talks come in the wake of the sudden rapprochement that China brokered between Saudi Arabia and Iran on March 10, which raised hopes for an end to hostilities in Yemen.
The Saudi and Omani delegations are scheduled to meet with the head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council in Yemen, Mahdi Al-Mashat, to discuss “lifting the blockade with all its repercussions, stopping the aggression, and restoring all the legitimate rights of the Yemeni people, including paying the salaries of all state employees from oil and gas revenues,” according to what was reported by Saba. ) on Yemeni sources.
The Omani delegation was accompanied by the Houthi chief negotiator, Mohammed Abdel Salam, who said the two sides would negotiate for a “just peace”.
Abdul Salam said, “The visit is a continuation of our efforts to achieve a just peace,” and added in statements to reporters on Saturday: “It is an ongoing process, whether in the context of the meetings held in Muscat or in Sana’a.”
Houthi officials also said that 13 prisoners released by the Saudi authorities as part of a prisoner exchange arrived at Sana’a International Airport on Saturday.
