Official Rejects Reports Of Envoys Death

Tehran, Dec 23, IRNA – Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab-African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Monday dismissed reports that the administrative attaché in the Iranian embassy in the Yemeni capital of Sana’a, Nour-Ahmad Nikbakht, who has been abducted, is dead. He is safe and sound, Abdollahian told IRNA. He said a delegation, due in Sanaa this week, has been assigned with the task of probing into the case. He added that based on information available, Nikbakht is safe and Iran and Yemen are in joint efforts to secure his release. We expect authoritative officials in Yemen to expedite due efforts, he added. He went on to say that following recent phone call of Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif with his Yemeni counterpart, a delegation will be dispatched to Yemen this week in that connection./end