TEHRAN The Yemeni Head of State, Ali Abdullah Saleh underscored that Iran, as a great Islamic country, can play an active role in the Muslim world. In an interview with the Beirut-based daily An-Nahar published on Saturday, the Yemeni president said, The people of the region have common cultural, historical and geographical links with the Iranian nation. Referring to Tehran-Sana'a historical ties, Saleh said, The Iranian and Yemeni people are both Muslim brotherly nations and the two countries enjoy good political relations.

Concerning his country's willingness to broaden relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, he added that mutual interests of the people of Iran and of the region will certainly lead to promotion of relations and expansion of all-out cooperation among them.