Iranian Emirati official visits Tehran to improve relationship

The city of Tehran, photographed from the city center (photo illustration).

IRAN-SETAD / PROPERTIES REUTERS / Stringer / Files

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A senior official from the United Arab Emirates is expected Monday, December 6 in Iran.

This is a first since 2016. The new conservative Iranian president, Ebrahim Raïssi, has affirmed that the normalization of relations with the countries of the region is the priority of his government.

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With our correspondent in Tehran,

The Emirati national security adviser, Sheikh Tahnoun ben Zayed, arrives in Tehran on Monday where he is due to meet several Iranian officials.

Abu Dhabi had reduced its relations with Iran after the attack on the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran in 2016 by demonstrators who wanted to protest against the execution of an influential Saudi Shiite religious opponent by Riyadh.

This visit comes in the context of the resumption of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the great powers, while the Islamic Republic has greatly accelerated its nuclear activities, which worries the Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf.

Shia Iran is the great regional rival of Sunni Saudi Arabia, the leader of the Gulf Arab monarchies.

Relations between Iran and these countries are also strained because of the regional policy of Tehran, which is accused of playing a destabilizing role, in particular because of its engagement in Syria and Yemen.

The visit of the Emirati official marks the desire of the two countries to open a new page in their rather tense relations in recent years.

Despite these differences, the two countries have important trade and economic ties.

►Read also: Iran carries out a test of its anti-aircraft missile system in the Natanz region

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• Iran

• United Arab Emirates