In a notable diplomatic development, Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), met today in Abu Dhabi with Saeed Khatibzadeh, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Head of the Centre for Political and International Studies.
Saeed Khatibzadeh and Anwar Gargash on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi © Mena Today
In a notable diplomatic development, Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), met today in Abu Dhabi with Saeed Khatibzadeh, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Head of the Centre for Political and International Studies.
The meeting signalled a continuation of high‑level talks between the two states, even as deep‑seated mistrust remains.
During their discussions, the two sides explored how to deepen bilateral relations, reviewed regional and global developments, and sought areas of mutual interest. Gargash stressed the UAE’s preference for dialogue and diplomacy in resolving regional tensions.
This engagement comes against a backdrop of a fragile rapprochement between Abu Dhabi and Tehran. The UAE, while maintaining strategic ties with Iran, remains cautious of Tehran’s regional ambitions, particularly its support for proxy groups and its complex economic relations with the Gulf.
For its part, Iran views the UAE as an important financial and trade hub and seeks to leverage Emirati channels for access to global markets. But Tehran’s strategic caution remains clear: while it engages, it remains alert to any shift in Gulf dynamics.
The UAE has suspended all flights operated by Iranian airlines to and from the country from Thursday until further notice, its General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said, citing the US ban targeting Iranian carriers' access to airports worldwide.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan will hold an urgent, high-level meeting under a joint defence pact to discuss ways to support the kingdom amid attacks by Yemen's Houthis, while Saudi's top religious authority told troops to be ready to lay down their lives to fight their Iran-aligned enemy.
Iranian flights to Gulf neighbours including travel hub Dubai appeared to have been cancelled on Thursday after a US deadline passed for global firms to halt work with Iran's airlines, a major step in a campaign President Donald Trump calls "economic D-Day".
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