UAE and Qatar mourn the death of Iranian President

On Monday, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar, neighboring countries to Iran in the Gulf, expressed their condolences over the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter accident.

Abu Dhabi, which has renewed ties with Tehran after years of strained relations, expressed solidarity with Iran during these difficult times. UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed stated, "We stand with Iran in these challenging times." He extended his heartfelt condolences to the Iranian government and people, emphasizing the tragic nature of the accident.

"I offer my deepest condolences to the government and people of Iran following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and their accompanying officials in a tragic accident," President Mohammed bin Zayed wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Similarly, Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani described the news as "painful" and conveyed his "sincere condolences to the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran" in a message also shared on X.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia have had historically tense relations with Iran, often supporting opposing factions in regional conflicts. However, diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Tehran were restored in March 2023 after a seven-year hiatus. Since then, Iran has shown increasing signs of rapprochement with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.

In June, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian visited the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman as part of a regional tour aimed at strengthening ties with Gulf nations. This tour highlighted Iran's efforts to solidify its relations within the region.