Iran’s foreign minister held talks Sunday with top officials in the United Arab Emirates amid tension between Gulf Arab states and Tehran over trouble in Bahrain, Emirati state news agency said. Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, who is also the ruler of Dubai, received Ali Akbar Salehi in the capital Abu Dhabi, WAM said of the previously unannounced visit.
Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahayan, who has criticised Iran’s policy in the region, was present at the meeting, it said.Sheikh Mohammed praised during the meeting the “wisdom of the Bahraini leadership” in dealing with protests, WAM said, adding that he highlighted the “distinguished links” between Iran and the UAE.
Tension has been running high between Iran and its Arab neighbours across the Gulf, with the two sides locked in a war of words since Shiite-led protests against Bahrain’s ruling Sunni dynasty broke out in mid-February.
