SANAA, Yemen

The Yemeni government on Monday sounded optimism over restoring peace in the war-torn country.

“The atmosphere is more favorable than any time before to restore peace in Yemen,” Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani said in a statement.

He said achieving peace will be “a victory for constitutional legitimacy and the Saudi-led coalition.”

The Yemeni minister added that a recent Saudi-Iranian deal to resume diplomatic ties “has made the atmosphere favorable for achieving peace.”

Last month, Riyadh and Tehran announced the resumption of their diplomatic relations following talks mediated by China.

“We welcome the exceptional efforts exerted by Saudi Arabia to achieve peace in Yemen, and reiterate our support for efforts aimed at achieving peace in the region,” al-Eryani added.

On Saturday, two delegations from Saudi Arabia and Oman held talks with Houthi leaders in the capital Sanaa, as part of efforts to end the 9-year conflict in the country.

On Friday, the Yemeni government said it has agreed with Houthi rebels to extend their cease-fire from six months to one year. The deal is expected to be announced in the upcoming days.

Yemen has been engulfed by violence and instability since 2014, when Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels captured much of the country, including the capital, Sanaa.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar