Iran, UAE to strengthen Ties

Iranian top diplomat Ali Akbar Salehi in a meeting with his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Tehran reiterated the two countries\' determination to further strengthen their friendly bilateral relations. The Islamic Republic is a secure neighbor for the regional countries including the UAE, Salehi said during the meeting on Wednesday. He added that the growing relations between Iran and the UAE demonstrated the resolve of the two countries\' officials to strengthen the amicable ties. The Iranian minister also urged enhanced bilateral cooperation in all fields and the continuation of exchanges of visits. Al Nahyan, for his part, expressed his country\'s determination to expand ties with Iran, saying Abu Dhabi will make all efforts to remove any obstacles in the way of enhanced relations. Iran is a significant trade partner for the UAE, with trade volume between Iran and the emirate of Dubai alone estimated at about $10 billion a year. Al Nuhayyan in a phone conversation with Salehi in December had also called for the further promotion and deepening of relations and bolstering of cooperation between the two Persian Gulf littoral states.