Has Yemen’s government been sidelined after Saudi-Iran deal?

Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi says his government will be part of any final negotiations over the outcome of the country's war - but many on the government side are worried it is being frozen out [File: Mike Segar/Reuters]

The Saudis are talking to the Iranians. Yemen’s Houthi rebels are talking to the Saudis. And the Yemeni government? Well, it does not seem to be talking to anyone.

Or at least that is the impression as months-long negotiations between Saudi officials and the Houthis are rumoured to be bearing fruit. This notion gained new impetus last week when Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to restore relations. Tehran has said it supports the Houthis politically but denies sending them weapons, as alleged by Riyadh and others during Yemen’s long-running war.