CRI听力:Saudi Arabia Dismisses Iranian Calls to End Air Strikes

Saudi Arabia is calling out the Iranian government, telling it not to interfere in the conflict in Yemen.

The comments from Riyadh come on the heels of Tehran issuing a call to end the air strikes it’s been leading for the past two weeks.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has characterized the air strikes as a "crime and genocide."

Iranian president Hassan Rouhani is calling for a ceasefire and talks among the waring factions in Yemen.

However, the Saudi side says its strikes will continue.

"We did not come to Yemen for our own ends. We came to Yemen to help the legitimate authority, which is the only one that is in a position to say what His Eminence Imam Khamenei said. Iran is not in charge of Yemen," said Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal.

The Saudi-led coalition has conducted 12-hundred sorties since the beginning of their airstrikes.

Houthi forces, along with supporters of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, have gained virtual control of the country.

This has forced the ouster of current President Ab-rabbu Mansour Hadi.

Around 600 people have been killed since the conflict escalated over 2-weeks ago.