On May 23, 2021, the Iranian flag waved in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria. REUTERS Leonhard Foeger File Photo
DUBAI, Dec 6 Reuters - The senior national security adviser of the United Arab Emirates met his Iranian counterpart in a rare visit to Iran on Monday in a diplomatic move aimed at overcoming their long-standing differences and increasing co-operation.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited days after Tehran and world powers broke off talks in Vienna in order to salvage Iran's 2015 nuclear pact, which Washington abandoned three years ago and imposed harsh sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
Sheikh Tahnoon, a brother of UAE's de facto ruler, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, discussed expanding bilateral ties and regional issues with Iran's top security official Ali Shamkhani, Iran's Nournews reported.
With business ties to Iran stretching back over a century, the emirate of Dubai, 150 km 100 miles across the Gulf, has long been one of Iran's main links to the outside world.
They have been on different sides of the war in Yeman. The UAE is a key member of the Saudi-led coalition that supports the internationally recognized government against Iran-allied Houthi fighters.
The UAE started engaging with Iran in the first year of 2019 after attacks on tankers off Gulf waters and Saudi energy infrastructure. Sunni Muslim power Saudi Arabia began direct talks with Iran in April, with Riyadh describing the talks as cordial but largely exploratory.
Analysts said Tehran can't afford to lose Dubai as a trade route, because U.S. sanctions have made doing international business more complicated and reduces its oil exports.
Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said last month that the UAE is taking measures to de-escalate tensions with Iran as part of a policy choice towards diplomacy and away from confrontation.