First Iranian plane lands in Sanaa after air transport deal

SANAA, March 1 (KUNA) -- The first Iranian airplane that took off from Tehran landed in Sanaa on Sunday, in compliance with an air transport MoU between the Houthis and Iran, while President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi vowing to punish those who signed the "illegitimate" memo.
The Iranian plane has been loaded with medical supplies sent by the Iranian red crescent to its Yemeni counterpart, SABA news agency, controlled by Houthis, said in a statement.
It quoted Sayyed Abdeen, an official in the Iranian embassy in Sanaa, as saying the air transport agreement would contribute to boosting economic and tourism cooperation between the two countries.
He said the agreement "will enable the Iranian government to provide assistance to the Yemeni people in an easy and smooth manner, specially during these difficult circumstances." Meanwhile, local media quoted Hadi, who moved to Aden to run the country, as saying the "air transport agreement with Tehran is void and illegitimate." He vowed to punish those who signed it.
Yemeni civil aviation authority, which is controlled by the Houthis, signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran's civil aviation authority yesterday to operate 14 flights weekly between Tehran and Sanaa. (end) az.bs