Iran FM, UAE New President Hold Talks

Hossein Amirabdollahian, Iran's foreign minister, met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's new president, in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Amirabdollahian left Tehran earlier on Monday for the United Arab Emirates to pay tribute to former ruler Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who died on Friday.

After a long illness, he died at the age of 73. On Saturday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was elected president.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris led a high-level delegation to meet the United Arab Emirates (UAE) new president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Mohamed bin Zayed took over the UAE presidency after his half-brother, former leader Sheikh Khalifa, died last Friday.

The U.S. delegation included Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and CIA chief William Burns.

“During her visit to the UAE, Harris conveyed condolences on behalf of President Biden, the Biden-Harris Administration, and the American people,” the White House noted in a statement. “The Vice President discussed the legacy and memory of Sheikh Khalifa, who was a good friend of the United States and a trusted partner across multiple Administrations.”

Harris highlighted the strength of the US’ partnership with the UAE, stressing the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to deepening ties to advance the interests of the American and Emirati people in the months and years ahead, the statement added.

On her part, the Vice President affirmed that the UAE was a “friend and partner”, as she congratulated Sheikh Mohamed on his election and expressed Washington’s condolences.

“We are here as a delegation… to reaffirm the shared commitment we have to security and prosperity in this region, and also how the American people have benefited from this relationship in terms of security and prosperity,” she said.

On Friday, United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan passed away at the age of 73.

“The Ministry of Presidential Affairs also announced that the UAE will observe a forty-day state mourning with the flag flown at half-mast starting today, and suspend work at all ministries, departments, and federal, local and private entities for three days,” WAM revealed.

Meanwhile, vice-president and premier Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, will act as president until the federal council which groups the rulers of the seven emirates meets within 30 days to elect a new president.