New York (South24) 

On Monday, the United Nations (UN) Security Council held a new closed session on Yemen. In a statement delivered by the Albanian delegate to the United Nations, Ferit Hoxha, the Council renewed its support for the efforts of UN Envoy Hans Grundberg.

The statement said: "It is important to achieve rapid and tangible progress in the ongoing discussions on peace in Yemen." The statement called for adherence to the state of calm in the country and reaching a permanent ceasefire.

"We stress the urgent need for the Yemeni-Yemeni dialogue, and we stress the need to maintain the prevailing calm and ensure the arrival of humanitarian aid," it added.

Nearly two months after the assassination of the UN employee Moayad Hameidi in Taiz, the Security Council stressed “ensuring unhindered access of humanitarian aid to those in need, and ensuring the safety of humanitarian workers.”

The statement welcomed "the continued Saudi and Omani support for UN mediation efforts in Yemen."

Members of the UN Security Council heard briefs presented by Envoy Hans Grundberg, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Joyce Msuya, and the Head of the United Nations Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA) Michael Perry.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Press Agency announced yesterday the arrival of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to the Sultanate of Oman from India after attending the G20 summit.

Today, Bin Salman met with the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq.

For months, Oman has been playing a mediating role between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthi militia. An Omani delegation arrived in Sanaa on August 17, accompanied by the head of the Houthi negotiating delegation, Mohammed Abdulsalam.

Related: What is the Status of the Omani Mediation?

The delegation, accompanied by Abdulsalam, departed to Muscat on August 20. It is not yet known whether the Saudi prince will meet with the leaders of the Houthi group or the Omani delegation.

In a phone call, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid Bin Salman said that he discussed with the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) Rashad Al-Alimi, the latest developments in the situation in Yemen.

He added on "X": "I affirmed our continued support for the PLC and our commitment to all efforts toward a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis."