In the wake of yet another attack against a foreign diplomat; Japan second secretary at the embassy in Sana’a was stabbed on Sunday by armed militants as their kidnapped attempt went awry; Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif urged his Yemeni counterpart to secure his own diplomat safe release from the hands of al-Qaeda.
Sources close to the matter confirmed on Tuesday that Minister Zarif called Yemen Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi on Monday to renew his deep concerns over the fate of Nour Ahmad Nikbakht.
The diplomat, who has not been heard from since his abduction in late August, has been rumoured dead by several local Yemeni newspaper since late last week. It is important to note that such reports have neither been substantiated with proofs nor have they been authenticated by officials. The Yemen Post could not either independently verify the allegations.
However, given Yemen’s recent track record and sudden bout of violence, one can understand why Iran has been eager to exert pressure on the Yemeni authorities.
An administrative staff member at the Iranian embassy in Sana’a, Nikbakht was kidnapped by unknown armed men as he was traveling in his vehicle in a southern district of the capital. Angered by what it perceives as Sana’a’s lack of commitment, Iran Foreign Ministry has warned it would make sure Yemen owns up to its legal responsibilities.
Minister Zarif qualified the attack against his diplomat as “inhumane” and “intolerable”.
Because of Yemen and Iran rather tense diplomatic relationships, political analysts have theorized that President Abdo Rabbo Mansour Hadi has lacked motivation in his search for Iran’s kidnapped diplomat, more eager to deal with more pressing issues.