US blocks Yemen’s prisoner swap release

AMMAN, Feb. 18 (YPA) – Jordan on Wednesday revealed new details about the stalled prisoner negotiations between Yemen and Saudi Arabia, which are being hosted in the Jordanian capital under UN auspices.

Jordanian journalist Waheed Al-Twalbeh said in a post on X that the deal, which would include nearly 3,000 prisoners, had already been agreed but was delayed due to a “veto” by certain countries hostile to Yemen, which he likely meant as a reference to the United States.

الإفراج عن الأسرى بين الاطراف اليمنية تأخر بسبب تدخلات دول لا ترغب بإغلاق ملف الوجع الإنساني.
المفاوضات في العاصمة الاردنية أنجزت الصفقة لكنها تعطلت بسبب فيتو من بعض الدول المؤذية لليمن لعنة الله عليهم.
اذا أسرى لهم سنوات عطلتم الإفراج عنهم كيف ستدفعون الرواتب .. القوة ستجبركم

— وحيد الطوالبة – Waheed tawalbeh (@waheed_tawa64) February 17, 2026

He added that international interventions have kept the humanitarian file unresolved.

The negotiations had initially been expected to conclude before Ramadan, following prior talks in Oman.

The delay prompted the UN special envoy to Yemen to travel to Moscow, where officials reportedly discussed potential Russian support for the talks as a counterbalance to US influence.

@E.Y.M