President Sheikh Mohamed has held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
During the telephone call on Friday, they reviewed a number of regional and international issues, with Sheikh Mohamed emphasising the UAE’s commitment to supporting all efforts to promote regional security and stability, state news agency Wam reported.
Both men underlined the importance of advancing dialogue and diplomatic solutions as tension rises because of the threat of a US attack on Iran.
US President Donald Trump sent the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group to the Middle East this week, and told Tehran that it could face a “far worse” attack than last year's bombing unless it begins talks over its nuclear programme.
Iran responded to the threat by saying any US attack on the country would be seen as the “start of war”, and issued its own threat that it would respond by striking the heart of Tel Aviv.
The warning came as Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps prepared to host naval drills in the sensitive Strait of Hormuz. The state-run Press TV channel said the two-day live-fire exercises would begin on Sunday.
The rising tension follows the most extensive and violent crackdown on protests in Iran in recent memory. But US allies and partners in the Middle East have reiterated calls for restraint from the US and Iran, the Associated Press reported, quoting an Arab diplomat familiar with the matter.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Oman and Qatar have been in contact with leaders in Washington and Tehran to make the case that an escalation by either or both sides would cause destabilisation throughout the region and affect energy markets, according to the official.
Arab and Muslim states in the region fear that any US attack on Iran would prompt an immediate response from Tehran that is likely to be directed at them or American interests in their countries and could cause collateral damage, the official said.
