IRAN CONFIRMS THE DEATH OF ITS ENVOY TO YEMEN’S HOUTHIS AFTER COVID-19 INFECTION

Tue 21 December 2021:

Iran’s top diplomat in Yemen died on Tuesday after contracting the coronavirus, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Ambassador Hassan Irlu died after being recalled from war-torn Yemen for “medical treatment,” according to Iran.

Irlu was removed from his post, according to the Wall Street Journal, due to growing tensions between Iran and the Houthi militia, which controls Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said the envoy passed away due to virus complications as he was transferred to the country in a “bad state” and due to “late cooperation” of some countries, in a veiled reference to Saudi Arabia.

Irlu was brought back to Iran on Saturday night and immediately admitted to a hospital in Tehran for medical treatment.

On Monday, Khatibzadeh said the envoy was in need of “immediate medical treatment”, while thanking some regional countries, including Iraq, for helping in his repatriation.

Irlu’s evacuation from war-torn Yemen required clearance from Saudi Arabia, which is engaged in a long-running war with Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen.

A report on Saturday said “direct contact” between Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman had resulted in the safe repatriation of Irlu to Iran.

The report was confirmed by Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul Salam, who tweeted that an understanding between Iran and Saudi Arabia brokered by Iraq had allowed the envoy’s evacuation on health grounds.

A seasoned diplomat and a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Irlu was appointed as Iran’s Ambassador to the Houthi-led government in Yemen in November 2020.

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