The Daily Star - AFP, December 04, 2013
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| This image released by the Emirates News Agency, WAM, shows UAE president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, right, meeting with the Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013. (AP Photo/WAM) |
DUBAI: The
president of the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday accepted an invitation to
visit Iran, the WAM state news agency said, as Tehran looks to mend ties with
Gulf states.
The Sunni
monarchies of the Gulf, particularly Saudi Arabia, have long viewed Shiite Iran
as a regional rival and the two sides are currently locked in a proxy war in
Syria, with Tehran backing the regime and Saudi Arabia and Qatar supporting
Sunni-led rebels.
But Iran
has tried to improve relations in recent weeks following a landmark agreement
on its nuclear programme, which the Gulf countries and the West have long
suspected is aimed at developing a weapons capability, allegations denied by
Tehran.
The
invitation was delivered to the UAE president, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed
al-Nahyan, by Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during a meeting
between the two in a palace in Al-Ain, in the east of the Emirates.
"The
date for the visit will be announced at a later stage," WAM said.
Sheikh
Khalifa told his guest that the UAE welcomes the nuclear deal, stressing that
his nation aspires for "strengthened security and stability in the region
and cooperation between countries," WAM said.
Zarif is in
the UAE as part of a Gulf tour that has taken him to Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.
He said
Iran's newly elected president Hasan Rouhani wishes to strengthen relations
with Gulf countries, "stressing that Iran gives high importance to its
relations with neighbours, especially the UAE," WAM reported.
In Kuwait,
Zarif reassured Gulf Arab states on Sunday that Tehran's nuclear deal is in
their interest.
The deal
was struck in Geneva last month between Iran and the P5+1 -- Britain, China,
France, Russia and the United States, plus Germany.
Iran agreed
to freeze parts of its controversial programme in exchange for an estimated
$7.0 billion of relief from crippling sanctions in an interim deal aimed at
buying time for the negotiation of a comprehensive accord.
The Gulf
states have called on Tehran to fully cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog in
implementing the deal.
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| Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Photo: AFP |
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