The United Arab Emirates announced on Sunday that the Tehran ambassador would resume his duties within days, six years after ties were downgraded in favor of Saudi Arabia.
In a statement, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Ambassador Saif Mohammed Al-Zahbi “will resume his duties at the UAE embassy in the Islamic Republic of Iran in the coming days, contributing to further development of bilateral relations. I will.”
The move aims to “achieve the common interests of both countries and the wider region,” he added.
Amid shifting political ties in the Middle East, UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash called for a easing of regional tensions in mid-July and hinted at the possibility of the ambassador’s return.
The United Arab Emirates stands in solidarity with Saudi Arabia after Iranian protesters attacked the Kingdom of Iran’s diplomatic mission after Riyadh executed Shia Muslim cleric Nimr al-Nimr in 2016. reduced its ties with the Islamic Republic.
Other Gulf Arab states, including Kuwait, have made similar moves.
Iran said earlier this month that Kuwait had sent an ambassador to Tehran for the first time since 2016.
In July, the Emirates’ and Iran’s foreign ministers held a phone call to discuss strengthening ties, UAE state media reported at the time.
The oil-rich United Arab Emirates has previously said the Gulf Arab states should engage in “collective diplomacy” to reach a deal with Iran, which is in talks with the West about reviving the 2015 nuclear deal. rice field.
On Tuesday, the European Union and the US said they were considering Iran’s response to a “final” draft of such an agreement.
In 2020, the UAE established diplomatic relations with Israel, which Tehran condemned.
But Abu Dhabi has pursued a policy of reconciliation with former regional rivals such as Qatar, Turkey and Iran, and maintained strong economic ties with Iran despite a diplomatic downgrade.
