A senior Iranian diplomat says the continuation of Saudi airstrikes against Yemen is disgraceful following Riyadh's violation of a new UN-brokered humanitarian ceasefire in the impoverished nation.

“The Muslim world and the Arab world are embarrassed at the continuation of Saudi military attacks on defenseless Yemeni people on International Quds Day,” Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told IRNA on Saturday.

He further said that terrorism and Zionism are two sides of the same coin.

The Iranian diplomat warned that extremist and terrorist movements are on a key mission, and that is to plunder the riches of Muslim countries and destroy the resistance front against the Zionist regime [of Israel].

“The US and the West's double standards in using terrorism as a tool contribute to the intensification of Tel Aviv’s crimes and the buildup of insecurity in the region,” Amir-Abdollahian added.

A UN-sponsored so-called humanitarian truce in Yemen got off to a shaky start Saturday after Saudi fighter jets carried out several strikes against the country.

The six-day ceasefire came into effect just before midnight Friday.

Saudi warplanes have been pounding Yemen since March 26 without authorization from the UN and heedless of international calls for a halt to the onslaught.

Over 3,000 people, including 1,500 civilians, have been killed since the conflict started in Yemen in March 19, according to the UN.

Reports say over 21.1 million people in Yemen -- more than 80 percent of the population -- are in need of aid, with 13 million struggling with food shortages.