FM terms Iran reliable partner for Persian Gulf States

"I can assure you that Iran is a reliable ally for all the Persian Gulf littoral states," Zarif said, addressing the opening ceremony of the 2nd Iran-UAE Joint High Commission in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

The Iranian foreign minister underlined that Iranian officials, specially President Hassan Rouhani, look at the UAE via a brotherly view, and said Tehran wants to have constructive interaction and dialogue with Abu Dhabi.

Zarif pointed to the very good and friendly relations between Iran and the UAE, and said, "The two countries can grow into strategic allies in the region."

The Iranian foreign minister referred to some 200 flights each week between Iran and the UAE, and said it indicates the importance of the relations between the two nations.

The Iranian foreign minister said the trade exchanges between Iran and the UAE is significant compared to Iran's trade with other regional countries, yet he still asked for further increase in exchanges between the two countries.

Zarif arrived in the UAE on Monday to take part in the two countries' joint economic cooperation commission meeting.

Prior to Zarif's arrival in Abu Dhabi, an expert-level meeting presided by the Iranian and Emirati deputy foreign ministers started work in the UAE capital in order to study the trend of the development of the Iran-UAE relations and implementation of the agreements already signed by the two states.

The Iranian and Emirati foreign ministers are due to ink several cooperation and trade agreements.

The expert meeting drafted the documents and agreements due to be signed by the two sides on Tuesday.

Iran attaches importance to strengthening its ties with the Middle East's countries, believing that it can maintain and reinvigorate security in the region.
/SR