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UAE official discusses cooperation with Iran’s roads minister

The UAE and Iran continue to maintain cordial economic and political ties, despite US pressure.

The flags of Iran (R) and of the UAE (L).
The flags of Iran (R) and of the UAE (L) fly above a building at the complex housing Iran's consulate headquarters in Dubai on April 5, 2023. — KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images

A top Iranian transportation official visited the United Arab Emirates on Monday. The visit comes amid the rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia and signaled continued strong UAE-Iran ties.

Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash visited Abu Dhabi where he met the UAE’s Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan as well as UAE Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazroui. Bazrpash was in the city for the Middle East Rain conference and discussed bilateral cooperation with the Emirati officials, according to the Emirates News Agency.

The purpose of the meeting was to boost bilateral trade between the two countries, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency.

Relatedly, Iran’s Chamber of Commerce reported on Monday that the two countries are discussing the establishment of a “direct container line” between Bushehr Port in southern Iran and the Port of Jebel Ali in Dubai. The purpose of the line will be to reduce transport times between the two countries.

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