Houthi leaders meet with the head of the EU delegation to Yemen‏

Yemen’s Houthi militias have placed several conditions to agree on a comprehensive political deal amid efforts by UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths and European ambassadors to revive talks on ending the country's war.

Houthi official sources asserted on Tuesday that militia leaders in the capital Sanaa placed a number of conditions during their meetings with European ambassadors, Asharq Al-Awsat reported. 

On Sunday, a European delegation started a visit to Sanaa to discuss developments in the country.

The EU seeks to encourage the ongoing efforts to reduce escalation and resume political talks between the Yemeni parties under Griffiths.

According to what Houthi sources said on Tuesday, the militia leaders met with the head of the EU delegation to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, French Ambassador Christian Testo, and the head of the Dutch mission, Irma Van Doorn.

The sources quoted Houthi foreign minister in the coup government Hisham Sharaf as saying that a political settlement in Yemen requires a comprehensive ceasefire at all battlefronts, an end to the blockade, and a set of measures on confidence-building, which include the payment of salaries for civil servants, reopening of Sanaa airport and allowing access for oil tankers and ships carrying foodstuff at Hodeidah port without any hindrance.

According to Yemeni observers, the Houthi pre-conditions aim to consolidate their coup and open a maritime and air corridor with Iran.

Houthis also plan to limit the powers of Yemen’s legitimate government in managing the country’s economy, they said.

The European ambassadors’ visit to Sanaa coincided with a trip by Griffiths to Saudi Arabia in an effort to resume his consultations with Yemen’s legitimate government to push the peace process forward.