Three Sons of Sheikh Zayed in Tehran for Talks
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed al-Nahyan accompanied by Information Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan and the Interior Ministry Undersecretary, Sheikh Seif bin Zayed al-Nahyan, met with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi.
It is noteworthy that no prior announcement was made about the trip to Tehran. The visit is even more surprising because the families of the sheikhs of the UAE are never in the region at this time of year, i.e. summertime. The reason for the visit seems to be the unilateral expansion of ties between the Islamic Republic and some sheikhdoms of the UAE, which evidently has caused the leaders of Abu Dhabi to make this sudden visit to Tehran.
At the meeting with the UAE delegation, Iranian President Khatami emphasized the importance of countries pursuing a policy of noninterference in affairs of one another and to work toward matters of mutual interest.
Commenting on Iran's detente policy, the president said that Tehran was ready to reduce tensions with any country, even those which had been hostile toward Iran in the past.
Khatami said that Iran's biggest trading partner in the region is the UAE and that ties between the two nations are "very good."
The president underlined the need for security and stability in the region, saying that all regional countries are on board a ship in the midst of the stormy sea of today's world.
He also stressed the need for all Muslim countries to support the oppressed people of Palestine and their Intifada.
He said that the UAE is among the friends of Iran and talks between officials of the two countries have always brought the two countries closer and have been helpful in providing matters of interest to both sides.
At the meeting, the UAE foreign minister handed the Iranian president a message from Sheikh Zayed, in which he had underlined the opening of a new chapter in Iran-UAE ties.
The message of the UAE ruler read that the sheikhdom was keen to expand ties with Iran in line with equality, cooperation and mutual respect.
It further said that the geographic situation of both countries, as well as their current religious and political status makes it necessary for both of the countries to develop a cordial and brotherly relationship.
Iran and the UAE are at loggerheads over the three strategic Persian Gulf islands of Abu Musa, and the Lesser and the Greater Tunbs. The islands were reoccupied by the Islamic Republic in 1971 after Britain was forced to leave the Persian Gulf.