UAE national security adviser to visit Iran Monday

By Abdul-Jabbar Abu Ras

ANKARA (AA) – The United Arab Emirates' (UAE) national security adviser will visit Iran on Monday, according to Iranian media.

State news agency IRNA said Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed was invited by Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, to discuss bilateral and regional issues.

No further details were provided about the visit, but IRNA said the top Emirati official will meet other Iranian officials during his stay.

There was no comment from Emirati authorities on the report.

The UAE and Iran in recent months have shown interest in improving ties.

Last month, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian spoke to his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, and both reaffirmed their commitment to enhance bilateral ties, especially in trade, according to an Iranian Foreign Ministry statement.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara