Detente between Saudi Arabia and Iran is no panacea for Yemen war

It may speed up peace talks between Riyadh and the Houthi movement, but it risks locking out other groups

The new detente between Saudi Arabia and Iran is likely to have major implications for the civil war in Yemen, possibly speeding up peace talks between Riyadh and the Houthi movement, but it also risks locking out other groups, including the main separatist faction, women and western governments.

Saudi Arabia has been holding private direct talks in Oman with the Houthi movement since October but the main separatist group, the Southern Transitional Council (STC), has warned it will not feel bound by any deal if it extends to issues of the administration, security or distribution of resources in the south of the country.