Guterres urges continued negot. to achieve peace in talks with Iran FM

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomes diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the Middle East War during talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi.

Meanwhile, the Houthi-run Ministry of Health said a strike by Saudi-backed forces on a residence in southwestern Yemen's Taiz province killed three women and an elderly man.

This, as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Washington DC.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York City.

Araghchi signed a memorial book before shaking hands with Guterres.

The pair "exchanged views on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East," according to a UN spokesperson statement.

The statement said Guterres "welcomed the diplomatic efforts that have been taking place during the UN General Assembly High-Level Week, and which aimed at ending the conflict."

Meanwhile, the Houthi-run Ministry of Health said a strike by Saudi-backed forces on a residence in southwestern Yemen's Taiz province killed three women and an elderly man.

The statement said three others were injured in the strike in Kadhah, in western Taiz.The strike in Kadhah comes amid intense fighting between Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed government forces around Taiz province, and further east, weeks after the Iran-backed rebels captured the strategic city of Mokha on the Red Sea coast.

Elsewhere, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Washington DC.

It comes after Saudi Arabia pushed for greater US backing in its escalating fight against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia previously said it had intercepted Houthi missiles and drones targeting the kingdom.

A regional body representing Arab Gulf states, the Gulf Cooperation Council, on Saturday condemned the latest Houthi attacks as a "grave escalation and threat to regional security" and urged the international community to respond.