Yemen’s government accused on Wednesday Iran-aligned Houthi militias of foiling peace efforts by UN envoy Martin Griffiths after Sanaa-based top insurgents outlined near-impossible conditions for resuming negotiations and handing over the port city of Hodeidah to government monitoring. Houthi council chairman Mehdi al-Mashat, when meeting Griffiths, presented conditions for coupists returning to talks, among which was the complete cessation of Arab Coalition air strikes in exchange for stopping the rocket fire on Saudi territory, sources in Sanaa with knowledge of the matter told Asharq Al-Awsat. More so, Mashat demanded that the internationally-recognized government based in Aden pay public sector employees working in Houthi control areas and lift the air and sea embargo imposed on Houthi-controlled passages known for arms trafficking to militiamen. As for Hodeidah, Houthis refused to hand over the strategic Red Sea port government control, but agreed, according to sources, the presence of UN staffers overseeing the administration in exchange for the survival of security control of the group. On the other hand, the Yemeni government led by President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi confirmed its rejection of listed conditions. Government Spokesmen Rajih Badi told Asharq Al-Awsat that coupists are trying to buy time as some of their major strongholds, such as Hodeidah, are nearing battle. Yemeni Local Administration Minister Abdul Raqeeb Fateh told Asharq Al-Awsat that Griffiths has confirmed his commitment to the three references honored by the Yemeni government. Griffiths, since taking office, has committed to three terms of reference: the Gulf Initiative, the outcomes of the National Dialogue and the relevant UN resolutions, foremost of which is resolution no. 2216. Fateh said that all Yemeni governorates and ports must be in the hands of the government and not under militia control, which invested them in personal agenda and exploited them for war efforts. “As the military operation to liberate Hodeidah approaches, Houthi militias begin listing conditions out of their recognition of their weak standing,” he added.