The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to Iran, Saif Mohammed Al Zaabi, has returned to Tehran six years after ties were downgraded.

Mr Zaabi on Tuesday met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

During the meeting, Mr Amir-Abdollahian said Tehran is interested in expanding relations with the UAE based on the neighbour-oriented policy.

The Iranian foreign minister noted the need for regional countries to cooperate for stability and peace and the necessity to use the existing capacities to develop relations between the two countries.

The UAE ambassador, who said he was glad to return to Iran, highlighted that both countries’ economic and commercial capacities were important in promoting bilateral relations.

The decision for the UAE ambassador to resume his duties in Tehran was announced by the Emirati Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in August in a move to contribute to further advancing bilateral relations in cooperation with officials in Iran to achieve the common interests of the two countries and the wider region.

Abu Dhabi recalled its ambassador from Tehran in 2016 in support of Saudi Arabia.

It cut diplomatic ties with Iran in protest against the attacks on the Saudi diplomatic mission in Iran following the Saudi execution of a Shiite cleric. 

(Xinhua/NAN)