Iranian President: Iran, UAE Agree to ‘Turn the Page’

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), whose relations have deteriorated amid the wider Middle East conflict, have agreed to “turn the page” and work toward improving ties, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday.

Pezeshkian said he held a “constructive exchange” with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan a day earlier on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in India.

“For the first time since the war and the incidents that occurred in the Persian Gulf, we had a constructive exchange with the crown prince of Abu Dhabi,” Pezeshkian said.

“It was agreed that we would turn the page, look to the future and build it together,” he added.

Relations between Tehran and Abu Dhabi have sharply deteriorated since US-Israeli attacks on Iran in February triggered the broader Middle East war. Iran subsequently retaliated against US allies in the region, with the UAE among the countries affected.

Tensions further escalated after Iran accused the UAE of involvement in military operations against Tehran. The conflict also disrupted energy infrastructure and oil shipments across the Gulf, including through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil transit route.

In August, the UAE announced that it was suspending trade and financial exchanges with Iran.

Despite the tensions, Dubai remains home to a large Iranian community and serves as an important economic and commercial link for Iran, which faces extensive US and international sanctions.

Pezeshkian’s remarks signal a possible effort by Tehran and Abu Dhabi to ease tensions and restore economic and diplomatic engagement following months of conflict.