Iran, UAE can turn into 'world's economic hub': Parliament speaker

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf has said the country and the United Arab Emirates enjoy the opportunity to unite forces towards considerably enhancing the countries' economic standing in the world.

"Given Iran's and the Emirates' geographical situation, we can turn into the world's great economic hub," Qalibaf told Emirati President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. The Iranian top parliamentarian has travelled to the Emirati capital on a two-day trip aimed at bolstering the bilateral relations.

"The opportunity is there, given the countries' [favorable] bilateral relations and [their pending] membership of the BRICS," he added.

Iran and the UAE were invited to join the BRICS grouping, which comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, in August as part of a decision by the bloc to accept six new members. Full membership is scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2024.

Qalibaf said his trip signaled the Islamic Republic's seriousness towards expansion of the bilateral ties.

"We intend to take a strong step [forward] for the future in all areas, and expand the countries' economies in all aspects," he said, adding, "There exists innumerable great opportunities in this regard."

The Iranian official reminded that the country had assigned priority in its foreign policy approach to promotion of relations with its neighbors.

He extended an invitation on the part of the country to the Emirati head of state to visit the Islamic Republic.

"I hope that the countries' relations would expand every day and not a single day would go by without us having ambassadors in our [respective] countries," Qalibaf noted.

Abu Dhabi downgraded its relations with Tehran in 2016 after Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran.

Iran and Saudi Arabia, however, agreed to restore the relations based on a China-mediated agreement in March. The UAE too reinstated its ambassador to Tehran last September, and Iran appointed a new envoy to Abu Dhabi in April.

For his part, the Emirati leader expressed delight over the Islamic Republic's appointment of the envoy, saying the countries' contiguity "resolves us to perpetually look for ways for all-out development of [our] relations."

Qalibaf's trip, he said, "provides further motivation for this."

ME