Senior UAE, Iran officials discuss de-escalation in rare call

Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan attending a reception for India's prime minister and delegation at the Presidential Airport in Abu Dhabi on February 13, 2024. (FILE/AFP)

• Since the start of the Middle East war, the UAE has taken a hawkish tone toward Iran

DUBAI: Senior UAE and Iranian officials held a call to discuss de-escalation on Wednesday, UAE state media reported, the first high-level call since ties deteriorated over the US-Iran war.
UAE Vice President and Deputy Premier Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan “held a phone call with Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran, during which they discussed regional developments and ways to de-escalate tensions in the region,” according to a statement released by the WAM news agency.
Since the start of the Middle East war, the UAE has taken a hawkish tone toward Iran, recalling its ambassador and closing its embassy after Tehran began its campaign targeting the Emirates and other Gulf countries.