Iranian minister outlines peace plan for Yemen in Spain visit, says sanctions on Iran must end

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif speaks during a press conference with his Spanish counterpart Manuel Garcia Margallo in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) (The Associated Press)

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FILE - In this April 3, 2015 file photo, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who is also Iran's top nuclear negotiator, waves to his well wishers upon arrival at the Mehrabad airport in Tehran, Iran, from Lausanne, Switzerland. The potentially path-breaking deal on Iran’s nuclear program could face political troubles in the Islamic Republic and the United States, but not necessarily elsewhere. Other world powers that signed on to a framework deal this month _ Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia _ are not likely to face major domestic obstacles to the deal. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File) (The Associated Press)

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif laughs during a press conference with his Spanish counterpart Manuel Garcia Margallo in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) (The Associated Press)

MADRID – Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has called for a peace plan for war-torn Yemen that includes humanitarian aid, dialogue and the formation of a broad-based Yemeni government after a proposed cease-fire already rejected by Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has been carrying out airstrikes in Yemen against the Houthi rebels who control the capital, Sanaa.

Zarif in a visit to Madrid Tuesday did not address Saudi claims that Tehran has been giving the Houthis military support.

He says no preconditions as to who would run Yemen can be imposed before dialogue begins with the country's different factions, because doing so "will prolong the disaster."

Zarif also reiterated Iran's position that sanctions against his country must be removed when a final deal is reached on its nuclear program.