UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg speaks at a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, June 16, 2026. Grundberg on Tuesday urged relevant parties of the Yemeni conflict to seize the opportunity created by regional de-escalation following the Iran-U.S. deal and revive the stalled political process. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)
UNITED NATIONS, June 16 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg on Tuesday urged relevant parties of the Yemeni conflict to seize the opportunity created by regional de-escalation following the Iran-U.S. deal and revive the stalled political process.
Briefing the UN Security Council, Grundberg said he hoped the regional development could create momentum for progress in Yemen and pledged to continue engaging the parties to advance political efforts. "I hope this deal marks a turning point for the region, and I will be working with the parties to encourage them to seize this moment to make progress on Yemen."
He said the recent U.S.-Israeli-Iran conflict has so far had limited military impact inside Yemen, where the relative calm established since the 2022 truce has largely held. However, he warned that regional tensions have added economic pressure to Yemen due to its heavy reliance on imports and proximity to regional developments.
Grundberg said his office recently held two separate meetings under the framework of the Military Coordination Committee (MCC) -- one involving military representatives from the Saudi-led Joint Forces Command and Yemen's Houthi rebels, and another involving the Joint Forces Command and the Yemeni government.
Grundberg said his office recently convened two separate meetings within the framework of the Military Coordination Committee (MCC) -- one with military representatives of the Saudi-led Joint Forces Command and Yemen's Houthi rebels, and another with the Joint Forces Command and the Yemeni government.
The meetings enabled discussions on security priorities, de-escalation measures and improving communication channels. Based on commitments from all sides, the UN plans to convene a trilateral MCC meeting in the near future, he said.
Grundberg added that his office has also continued consultations and preparatory work on economic issues that will ultimately need to be addressed through negotiations.
He said these efforts are aimed at building confidence and paving the way for an inclusive political process to end the conflict, noting that despite negotiations on other issues, the parties have not held face-to-face political talks for years.
Warning that continued deadlock risks further instability inside Yemen and across the region, Grundberg called on the parties to use the current period of regional de-escalation to advance a sustainable political settlement, adding that the United Nations remains committed to supporting the process and the Yemeni people. ■
The Security Council holds a meeting on Yemen at the UN headquarters in New York, June 16, 2026. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg on Tuesday urged relevant parties of the Yemeni conflict to seize the opportunity created by regional de-escalation following the Iran-U.S. deal and revive the stalled political process. (Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)
