After Iran’s incoming president, Ebrahim Raisi, held a rare telephonic conversation with the United Arab Emirates’ Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, he asserted Iran’s right to retaliate against any aggressive actions. This diplomatic interaction took place on August 2nd, 2021, when Raisi was officially inaugurated as Iran’s new leader.
According to reports, this is not a typical Iranian gesture, as Ebrahim Raisi is very conservative and does not typically engage in such diplomatic initiatives. The UAE’s Crown Prince is known to be close with the Biden administration, making this call noteworthy for Iran. Furthermore, Raisi’s decision to take the call indicates a possible sense of urgency or a strategic milestone in the country’s foreign diplomacy.
The turn of events can be traced back to mutual tensions that mounted between the two nations following the series of attacks on commercial ships in the Gulf waters in 2019. Evidently, these attacks had been attributed to Iran and elevated the situation to a precarious threat to the global economy. However, it is imperative to remember that Iran has repeatedly denied such accusations.
In their conversation, Raisi expressed his firm conviction on Iran’s right to defend its people’s interests and security, stressing that he will not hesitate to take actions if provoked. However, Raisi also affirmed that stability and security in the region are among Iran’s strategic principles, emphasising that dialogue and positive interaction with the UAE are part of its policy.
Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, on his part, wished Raisi good health and successful tenure, expressing optimism about the growth of UAE-Iran ties. His sentiment reflects a strong desire to bring a thaw in the diplomatic relations between the two countries, even while the UAE remains a staunch ally of the United States.
These developments are significant given the broader geopolitical context. The United States is a major stakeholder in this scenario, with ongoing indirect talks with Iran about reviving the 2015 nuclear deal. The conversations between Iran and the UAE could be a sign of a shift in the wider diplomatic landscape, with Iran possibly looking to soften its stance relative to not only the UAE but other Gulf states and the West.
This phone call carries symbolic weight showcasing Iran’s possible readiness for diplomatic negotiations. It remains to be seen how these diplomatic maneuvers will play out in the future, but they may mark a key turning point in the unsteady relationship between Iran and its regional neighbours, while potentially shifting the dynamics of Iran’s interactions with the US and other Western powers.
