The Houthi rebel group, designated as a terrorist organization, has rejected a call by the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, to engage in negotiations with the internationally recognized Yemeni government on economic issues.

Houthi leader Hussein al-Ezzi, the group's Deputy Foreign Minister, stated on Saturday, July 13, 2024, that they had informed Grundberg of their "categorical rejection" of any attempt to "whitewash the American foreign page and portray the external aggression as an internal matter."

Al-Ezzi further emphasized that "using the language of postponement and delay in matters related to the rights of our beloved Yemeni people is unacceptable," referring to the UN envoy's request for the Presidential Leadership Council to postpone the Central Bank's decisions against banks in Sana'a, currently under Houthi control.

He asserted that any negotiations with the recognized government would only take place within the framework of discussing the implementation of the agreed-upon roadmap.

This statement comes just hours after Grundberg urged the Yemeni parties to engage in "dialogue under the auspices of the United Nations between the Yemeni parties to discuss economic developments."

"Barran Press" obtained a letter from Grundberg to the Presidential Leadership Council, in which he requested the postponement of the recent decisions of the Yemeni Central Bank regarding the suspension of licenses for banks that have not relocated their headquarters to Aden, declared the temporary capital of Yemen.

In the letter dated July 10, 2024, Grundberg expressed concern over the Central Bank's decision, numbered 30 for the year 2024, which "suspends the licenses of six banks, followed by communication with correspondent banks and the SWIFT system," stating that this "will lead to the cessation of those banks' access to correspondent banks and the SWIFT system."

The UN envoy urged the Yemeni government and the Central Bank to "postpone the implementation of the decisions at least until the end of August," calling for "the initiation of dialogue under the auspices of the United Nations between the Yemeni parties to discuss the recent economic developments in Yemen."

He explained that the dialogue aims to "resolve these developments in a way that serves the interests of all Yemenis and is consistent with the desired spirit of the commitments agreed upon by the Yemeni parties," noting that his office will send more details about this dialogue, including the agenda, to the relevant interlocutors within the Yemeni government and the Central Bank.

Addressing the Presidential Leadership Council, Grundberg said: "I count on your full support to ensure the progress of this dialogue for the benefit of all Yemenis and to preserve the roadmap. I am also in contact with Ansar Allah (Houthi group) to secure their commitment to this dialogue."

In response, the Presidential Leadership Council held an "emergency meeting" to discuss Grundberg's letter, during which they affirmed their "commitment to a clear agenda for participation in any dialogue on the economic file."

The Council set conditions for engaging in any dialogue on the economic file, including "resuming oil exports, unifying the national currency, canceling all arbitrary measures against the banking sector, and the financial and business community."

In May 30, 2024, the Yemeni Central Bank in Aden issued a decision to suspend dealings with six Yemeni banks after the deadline for implementing its decision to relocate their main centers to Aden expired. This was part of a series of decisions aimed at protecting the country's banking sector.

In December 23, 2024, the United Nations announced that the Yemeni parties had reached understanding to commit to a set of measures, including implementing a ceasefire across Yemen, taking steps to improve living conditions in Yemen, and engaging in preparations for resuming a comprehensive political process under the auspices of the United Nations.

The roadmap and peace efforts in Yemen have stalled due to attacks by the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization, against commercial cargo ships in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Aden since November 2024.