War-torn Yemen's government said Sunday it is confident of holding the strategic city of Marib against the Iran-backed Houthi militias.
Marib is an "impenetrable wall", Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak said at at the Manama Dialogue security forum in Bahrain.
He warned that if the city -- which is key to controlling Yemen's significant oil and gas resources -- fell, it would be a disastrous setback.
"The fall of Marib will mark the end of the political process and peace efforts in Yemen," he said.
"It has become one of the most strategic priorities for the Iranian regime and its proxies in the region."
Bin Mubarak said Yemen was "one of the pillars of Iran's expansionist program", warning of a "new phase of conflict and a new cycle of violence and chaos" in the region if the Houthis are successful.
Tens of thousands have been killed, millions displaced and much of Yemen has been left on the brink of famine by the seven-year war.
The Houthis have repeatedly ignored international calls to halt their attacks to ease the humanitarian suffering of the people and allow the delivery of aid.
Sources close to the Houthis say nearly 15,000 of their fighters have been killed near Marib since June alone.
Bin Mubarak said he believed the militias would not take Marib.
"I think still they have illusions. They thought that they can make more military advancement or victories on the ground and that this will change the facts on the ground," the foreign minister told reporters.
"Now all their power has been targeting Marib since February... we are very confident that (Marib's fall) will not happen."
According to Bin Mubarak the population of Marib province has swollen to four million people as Yemenis fled frontline areas for its relative stability since the war started.
Bin Mubarak said pro-government troops were moved from around the Hodeidah province to bolster forces in Marib.
"After the redeployment, we started making also military advancements," he told reporters.
Tim Lenderking, the US special envoy, held talks with Bin Mubarak in Bahrain on Saturday as part of his latest regional push for peace.
"I think the Yemeni people are tired," the Yemeni foreign minister said. "Everyone is calling for peace."
