The president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) met with Iran’s foreign minister on Thursday, signaling a positive shift in relations between Arab Gulf countries and the Islamic Republic.
Historically wary of Iran due to its nuclear program and support for regional militant groups, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf nations have cultivated strong defense ties with the United States.
However, in recent months, they have pursued a more independent path, reaching out to U.S. adversaries as Washington’s focus has turned to Russia and China.
During the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian discussed the importance of building on positive developments to benefit the region’s people and enhance stability and prosperity, according to the UAE’s state-run WAM news agency.
The Iranian state TV reported that the two leaders met for 90 minutes and discussed further cooperation in various fields. It was also mentioned that the Iranian foreign minister invited Sheikh Mohammed to visit Iran, while the UAE president extended an invitation to Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi to visit the Emirates.
This meeting follows Saudi Arabia’s recent outreach, which led to a normalization of relations with Iran after seven years, brokered by China. Embassies have been reopened, and high-level official visits have taken place between the two countries.
The UAE, home to modern cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, is a key U.S. military ally, hosting around 2,000 American troops at the Al-Dhafra Air Base. The presence of U.S. forces in the region has long served as a deterrent to Iran.