UAE ambassador resumes duties in Iran after 6-year absence

TEHRAN, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to Iran Saif Mohammed Al Zaabi, who has returned to Tehran six years after ties were downgraded, on Tuesday met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.

During the meeting, Amir-Abdollahian said Tehran is interested in expanding relations with the UAE based on the neighbor-oriented policy.

The Iranian foreign minister noted the need for regional countries to cooperate for stability and peace and the necessity to use the existing capacities in the development of relations between the two countries.

The UAE ambassador, who said he is glad to return to Iran, highlighted that the economic and commercial capacities of both countries is an important factor in promoting bilateral relations.

The decision for the UAE ambassador to resume his duties in Tehran was announced by the Emirati Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in August, in a move "to 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."

Abu Dhabi recalled its ambassador from Tehran in 2016 in support of Saudi Arabia, which cut diplomatic ties with Iran in protest against the attacks on the Saudi diplomatic mission in Iran following the Saudi execution of a Shiite cleric.