Ships start evacuating first batch of Iranian nationals from UAE

Iranian nationals stranded in Arab countries of the Persian Gulf region are being evacuated using ships operated by Iranian companies.

According to Press TV, Head of Port and Maritime Organization of Iran (PMO) said on Saturday that a 550-seat passenger ship was due to arrive in a port south of the country later in day carrying Iranian nationals from the  United Arab Emirates.

Mohammad Rastad said that Sunny, one of the largest passenger ships operating in West Asia region, was allowed to the UAE Port of Sharjah after negotiations between the PMO and authorities in the Arab country.  

Flights between Iran and the UAE have been cancelled over concerns about the spread of coronavirus. Iran has identified hundreds of coronavirus cases while dozens of deaths have been reported since the infection started to spread in the country on February 19.

Speaking with the Qatari Emir, President Hassan Rouhani said that a “special medical protocol” has also been put in place to allow for the “resumption of normal flights between the two countries”.

Qatar limited its flight services to Iran due to the coronavirus outbreak earlier this week.

Pointing to the Qatari emir’s trip to Tehran last month, Rouhani said the event had been “successful” and expressed hope that a similar meeting in Doha can led to “more effective steps in developing mutual relations”.

“I hope that officials in the Joint Commission for Qatar-Iran Relations – which will be established next month – can lay the groundwork for developing mutual ties,” he added.

Sheikh Tamim welcomed Rouhani’s proposal for cooperation between the two countries’ health ministries and the formation of a mutual medical protocol allowing trade and travel between the two countries.

ME