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UAE, Iran: Neighbours Can be Partners Too

Relations between the UAE and Iran appear to be headed to a new level following the landmark visit to Teheran by Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Shaikh Abdullah’s visit to Iran has come close on the heels of a high profile visit by Abdul Rahman bin Hamad Al Attiyah, secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Both visits illuminate a growing and welcome keenness on the part of Arab and Gulf states to improve relations with Iran. Of course, the UAE and other Gulf states share historical ties with the big neighbour that are not merely limited to trade and economic interaction.

The UAE in particular has had very close cultural, economic and socio-religious relations with the Persian giant largely because of its geographical proximity. Dubai is home to a large Iranian expatriate community which has contributed to the emirate’s economic growth.

The UAE is also top trading partner of Iran with their bilateral trade exceeding $14 billion last year. This is why the UAE attaches high importance to its equation with Iran.

Earlier this year, Vice-President and Prime Minister His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, paid a high profile visit to Iran which not only aimed to bolster UAE-Iran ties but also sought to help Iran resolve its tensions with the West.

Shaikh Abdullah’s visit on Wednesday is another bold attempt to upgrade this strategic partnership. The neighbours have decided to set up a joint commission to improve cooperation in all areas and address mutual concerns and interests. Speaking in Teheran on Wednesday, Shaikh Abdullah magnanimously attributed the new cooperation initiative to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to the UAE last year urging concerted efforts by the neighbours to ensure it best serves the interests of the Emiratis and the Iranians. However, all such cooperation is based on mutual trust and confidence. Iran has to address the genuine and reasonable concerns of the UAE and other Gulf neighbours.

The UAE has repeatedly raised the issue of the occupation of its islands by Iran at all regional and international forums. However, these protests by the UAE have largely been ignored by Teheran.

Then there’s the question of Teheran’s nuclear programme and its military ambitions.

Even though Iran has always insisted that its nuclear programme is peaceful and its military expansion is not aimed at its Arab and Muslim neighbours, they are genuinely concerned and understandably worried. The Islamic republic has to address these reasonable concerns.

Nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction are a clear and present danger to the Middle East, a region that is already dangerously volatile and witness to at least two conflicts. Iran should join the UAE and other Arab countries in demanding the total de-nuclearisation and de-weaponisation of the Middle East. True, the Arabs have close strategic relations with the West and United States that currently are not on speaking terms with Iran. But these relations do not have to be at the expense of Iran or the US. If the Arabs and Iran join hands, they can not only change the Middle East but could also help make our world a better place.