Iran appointed its first ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since 2016, on Tuesday, marking a significant shift in the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Reza Ameri, director general of the Iranians Abroad Department for Tehran’s Foreign Ministry, was appointed as the envoy to Abu Dhabi, told the Iranian state media while citing “sources.” Ameri has previously served as Iran’s envoy to Algeria, Sudan, and Eritrea.
The move followed the UAE’s decision last year to upgrade ties and return its ambassador to Tehran when Abu Dhabi made an announcement that they would be sending an Emirati ambassador back to Tehran.
“The administrative procedure of his credentials is almost complete and he will travel to Abu Dhabi in the near future,” said Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Ali Bagheri in March.
The UAE had previously downgraded its relations with Iran after Saudi Arabia cut ties with the country in 2016. This was after Iranian protesters had stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran following the execution of a prominent Shiite cleric by the Saudi authorities.
The renewed ties between Iran and the UAE come amid a realignment of relations between Gulf states and Iran.
The UAE had business and trade ties with Iran for over a century, and its Dubai emirate has been one of Iran’s main links to the outside world. The two countries started re-engaging with each other in 2019 following attacks in Gulf waters and on Saudi energy sites.
The appointment is seen as a positive development in the region, as it marks a further step towards the restoration of normal diplomatic ties between Iran and its Gulf neighbors. It is hoped that this will lead to increased stability and security in the region and help to resolve conflicts in the Middle East, from Yemen to Syria.
Last month, Saudi Arabia announced that it would re-establish relations with Iran in a China-brokered deal, marking a significant step change in years of hostility between the two countries.