After striking a security deal that opened the door to political normalization between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Shamkhani eyes security upgrades with UAE

The UAE National Security Adviser, also self-described as the architect of UAE national security, Tahnoon Bin Zayed, confirmed during the reception of the Secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, in the UAE, on Thursday, that cooperation with "strong Iran" is very important for the UAE. 

Tahnoun bin Zayed said, as quoted by the official Iranian news agency IRNA, that "cooperation and friendship with the great and powerful country of Iran is very important and one of the priorities."

The Emirati adviser added that "the development of fraternal relations between Abu Dhabi and Tehran is one of the priorities of the United Arab Emirates", stressing that "the agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia is a building block in the expansion of peace, stability and sustainable security in the region".

He continued: "I hope that Admiral Shamkhani's visit will be a turning point in the relations between the two countries and the development of cooperation between them", adding that cooperation and friendship with Iran is one of the priorities of the Emirates.

For my part, the Secretary of the Supreme Council of National Security of Iran considered this trip to the Emirates "a useful start for the two countries to enter a new stage" in political, economic and security relations.

Shamkhani said that "cooperation and rapprochement should be replaced by enmity and distance" in order to overcome the challenges that cannot be sustained in the interest of the countries of the region.

Earlier today, Shamkhani asserted, before leaving Tehran for Abu Dhabi, that "Tehran's goal in neighboring diplomacy is to create a strong region".

And at the end of 2021, the Minister of National Security of the UAE visited the Iranian capital, Tehran, and met with Shamkhani, in response to the latter's invitation.

A few days ago, Saudi Arabia and Iran announced their agreement to resume diplomatic relations and open embassies between the two countries within two months.

Shamkhani also met the president of UAE, Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.