TEHRAN, Iran — Murmurings on the opposite sides of the Gulf are getting louder. Iran and its Gulf neighbors are rebuilding burnt bridges despite numerous policy differences, especially between Iran and Saudi Arabia and over Syria. While no one is predicting a breakthrough, there are clear signs of a thaw since last year’s election of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, whose administration has given priority to improving ties with the Arab Gulf states.

A case in point is this week's visit by the emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who arrived in Iran on June 1. The visit is being described as historic, the first such trip since he became emir in 2006, and comes in the context of a gradual improvement in bilateral ties.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian told Al-Monitor, "The visit is also aimed at unifying efforts against extremism and sectarianism in the region. President Rouhani looks forward to a collective effort. He discussed this before in Oman, and now he’ll do so with the Kuwaiti emir."

A source close to the Kuwaiti delegation told Al-Monitor that the most important meeting on the agenda will be with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.