Mohammad says Iran talks fruitful

Tehran: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai on Monday held talks with Iran's Vice-President Parviz Davoodi on bilateral ties and ways to boost economic cooperation.

Shaikh Mohammad headed the UAE delegation in the high-level talks with the Iranian team led by Davoodi.

Shaikh Mohammad said the UAE is committed to maintaining good relations with all friendly countries on the ground of its balanced policies.

"My visit to Tehran comes within the framework of the UAE's foreign policy," Shaikh Mohammad said.

"Iran is a neighbouring Muslim country with which we share good relations and joint interests," he added.

Shaikh Mohammad described his talks with Davoodi as "fruitful and useful" for both nations, especially in the economic field.

The talks also touched on a number of issues, including bilateral cooperation, regional stability and the Iranian nuclear programme, which Tehran insists, is for peaceful purposes, Shaikh Mohammad told reporters.

Davoodi welcomed Shaikh Mohammad's visit and described it as 'historic', saying that would open a new chapter of the strong relations between Iran and the UAE.

He praised the UAE's leadership and government for its 'wise stand' towards Iran, especially with regard to the issue of nuclear energy.

The talks were attended by Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.

Later, Shaikh Mohammad left for Damascus heading a high-profile delegation, including Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group, Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and other senior officials.

Earlier in Dubai, Shaikh Mohammad was seen off at the airport by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, and other shaikhs and senior officials.

Timeline: UAE - Iran ties

• November 25, 1990: Iranian Minister of Reconstruction Gulam Riza Rarozesh arrived in UAE leading the Iranian delegation, where he held talks with UAE officials on cooperation and bilateral relations.
• February 9, 1992: Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid visited Iran where he met Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.
• May 24, 1998: Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan received Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazzi to discuss bilateral relations as well as discuss issues on the UAE islands of Abu Mousa and Lesser and Greater Tunbs.
• July 28, 2001: UAE delegation headed by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan visits Tehran.
• May 26, 2002: Shaikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan visits Tehran.
• May 14, 2007: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Abu Dhabi, in a landmark visit. It was the first ever visit by an Iranian head of state to the UAE.

- Staff Report