Pompeo hopes for resolution in southern Yemen as he meets Saudi deputy minister

The behaviour of Yemen and Iran topped their talks in Washington

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met Saudi Deputy Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman on Wednesday where he stressed need for a negotiated resolution to current dispute in Aden, Yemen. AP Photo/MichaeShow more

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met Saudi deputy defence minister Prince Khalid bin Salman on Wednesday, and stressed need for a negotiated resolution to the dispute in Aden, Yemen.

“The secretary reiterated US support for a negotiated resolution between the Yemen government and the Southern Transitional Council,” the State Department said.

Clashes resumed in Aden on Wednesday between the Yemeni government and  Southern Transitional Council forces.

Government forces tried to take advantage of the STC’s commitment to de-escalation and attempted to push forward on Aden.

Mr Pompeo thanked the minister for the kingdom’s efforts to mediate the dispute.

The Saudi Arabian government has tried to gather the factions in Riyadh and broker an agreement since the clashes started three weeks ago.

By Wednesday evening,  it was unclear who was in control of the Yemeni port city.

While pro-government forces claimed advances in the morning, by night time STC fighters had  seemingly retaken control of the airport and the main government agencies.

Saudi Arabia and the US agreed that holding dialogue was the only way to achieve “a stable, unified, and prosperous Yemen”.

On Iran, Mr Pompeo stressed the need for stronger maritime security to promote freedom of navigation, and to counter the Iranian regime’s destabilising activities in the region.

Prince Khalid last week met Martin Griffiths, UN special envoy to Yemen, who continues to mediate and try to avert a bigger crisis.

A US State Department official told The National that  the intentions of Washington were "to work with our international partners to bring peace, prosperity and security to a unified Yemen".

"We are focused on supporting a comprehensive political agreement that will end the conflict and dire humanitarian situation," the official said.

Mr Pompeo was involved in the new US diplomatic push to boost Mr Griffiths's efforts, which could involve direct US talks with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

This month, Mr Pompeo called Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prince Khalid’s brother, to discuss Yemen and the two “reaffirmed their strong support for UN efforts to advance the political process".

Gerald Feierstein, a former US ambassador to Yemen and vice president of the Middle East Institute, told The National on Tuesday  that Prince Khalid's visit was a "sign of greater US engagement in resolving the Yemen conflict".

Mr Feierstein  said that the push could part of a broader regional strategy to ease tension between the US and Iran.