Uae President, Vp Congratulate Iran On National Day

President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan on Monday sent a cable of congratulations to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the occasion of Iranian National Day celebrations.



UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum sent a similar note of congratulations to the Iranian leader, the UAE's official news agency reported.



On February 1, Iranians celebrate the return to Iran of Ruhollah Khomeini – the leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which saw the overthrow of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi – from a 15-year exile. They mark the event with ten days of celebrations that culminate on February 11.



UAE-Iran relations remain tense over three islands that the UAE claims are illegally occupied by Iran.



The three islands, which lie in the Strait of Hormuz at the entrance of the Arabian Gulf, were captured by Iran in 1971 following the withdrawal of British troops from the area.



UAE politicians and government representatives raise the issue of the three islands at almost every international meeting.



Political and economic relations between the UAE and Iran, however, have grown recently, despite their tense relations.



Around 400,000 Iranian nationals currently live in the UAE, including large numbers of businessmen and traders. There are also 8,000 Iranian companies operating in the UAE, according to the Iranian Business Council in Dubai.



By Ahmed al-Masri



englishnews@aa.com.tr - Abu Dabi