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Iran aid ship passes Oman, nears Yemen coast

Sunday, 17 May 2015 1:40 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 17 May 2015 1:40 AM ]

Dubbed Nejat (Rescue), Iran's ship carrying an international group of humanitarian aid workers, medical technicians, and peace. (file photo)

Iran’s Nejat ship with its cargo of humanitarian aid for Yemen has passed Oman and reached the coast of the war-torn country.

Iran Shahed, carrying 2,500 tons of food and medical supplies passed Oman on Saturday and could now face threats from al-Qaeda Takfiri militants and pirates in the area.

The aid ship left the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas on May 11 and is set to dock at Yemen’s western port Hudaydah on Thursday.

In addition to the crew members, the ship is carrying a number of volunteer doctors as well as international activists and media personnel.

Iran has coordinated with the UN to prepare the ground for the ship to dock at a port in Yemen, said Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on May 14.

Riyadh has already blocked earlier Iranian aid deliveries to Yemen. Last month, it prevented two Iranian civilian planes from delivering medical aid and foodstuff to the impoverished people.

Saudi Arabia started its military aggression against Yemen on March 26 -- without a UN mandate -- in a bid to undermine the Houthi Ansarullah movement, which currently controls the capital, Sana’a, and other major provinces, and to restore power to Yemen’s fugitive former President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, who is a staunch ally of Riyadh.

SRK/NT

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