UAE promises Iran it 'will not be targeted from its territory'

The UAE has pledged to Iran that it will not be targeted from Emirati territory, the Emirati ambassador to Tehran has said, amid growing normalisation with Israel in the Gulf region.

Saif Mohammed Al-Zaabi, the UAE ambassador to Iran, made the statement on Wednesday during a meeting with Iran Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Al-Zaabi said he hoped that the dialogue currently underway between the UAE and Iran could lead to other countries in the region, such as Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain, improving their relations with Tehran.

He said that there were increasing official visits between the UAE and Iran and presented an invitation to  Iranian President Ebrahim Reisi to visit the Emirates.

The Emirati ambassador emphasised that "no one will be able to use their presence in the UAE to inflict damage on [Iran] whether militarily, or in terms of security or intelligence".

Ghalibaf warned of Israel's plans to destabilise the Gulf region and accused the US of creating tensions. He said a warming of ties between Iran and the UAE - along with other Gulf states - would enhance regional security. 

Iranian media has reported that Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, will visit the UAE on Thursday to take part in talks with senior Emirati officials.

The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported that Shamkhani's visit follows an official invitation from his Emirati counterpart, security chief Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed.

IRNA also confirmed that a high-ranking security and economic delegation would accompany Shamkhani.

In August 2022, the UAE recalled its ambassador to Iran after diplomatic ties between the two countries were steadily downgraded after Riyadh's decision to sever ties with Tehran in 2016.

This is an edited translation from our Arabic edition. To read the original article click here.