The United Arab Emirates will reinstate its ambassador to Iran after six years as ties between the Persian Gulf countries improve amid a broader regional rapprochement.
Ambassador Saif Mohammed Al Zaabi will resume his duties at the embassy in Tehran in the coming days, according to a statement from the UAE ministry of foreign affairs. It will “contribute to further advancing bilateral relations in cooperation with officials in the Islamic Republic of Iran to achieve the common interests of the two countries and the wider region,” the ministry said.
The UAE downgraded its diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016 after a mob attacked Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Tehran and set it on fire in protest against Riyadh’s execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.
Tensions continued to worsen after the UAE supported the Trump administration’s 2018 withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear accord and joined a tough sanctions regime against Iran’s economy. While Tehran has frequently criticized the Emirates for establishing official ties and trade agreements with Israel, efforts to mend their relationship have been kept on a separate diplomatic track.
The UAE’s statement comes within a week of Iran responding to an EU plan to restore the beleaguered atomic agreement. One official said Iran’s feedback was constructive and the bloc was discussing a “way ahead” with the U.S.
