The Saudi-financed Asharq AlAwsat June 2 carried a Q&A with Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid, responding to questions sent by email. The context of the exchange was not stated.
A Saudi citizen asked why the UAE has strong trade relations with Iran, while the Islamic Republic had occupied the Tunb Islands since 1971 and refused mediation– Is the UAE afraid of Iran’s nukes? SMBZ answered, “With respect to the nuclear issue, this is an internal Iranian issue, so long as our brothers in Iran insist it is for peaceful purposes. The Emirates (!-ed) was built on cooperative relations with all states of the world, on the basis of mutual respect and exchange. Most of the Gulf states have such relations with Iran–not just the UAE, and these ties go back hundreds of years.” On the other hand, SMBZ warned, “if the issue of the islands is not put to rest soon, it will create an unpleasant atmosphere with respect to the security and stability of the region.” –EDC
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