UAE urges Rouhani to reset Iran's foreign policy

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, May 22, 2017
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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) top diplomat said on Sunday that "Tehran shall not squander another opportunity" to reset its foreign policy, after reform-oriented and moderate Iranian President Hassan Rouhani won re-election for a second four-year term on Saturday.

"One hopes Iran reset its troubled relations with neighbors," Anwar Gargash, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said on his twitter account.

"Rouhani's moderation has not translated positively in Iran's regional foreign policy," he added, as Iran's "expansionist FP (foreign policy)" has been "disastrous" for the region.

He urged re-elected Rouhani "to switch" to a "respectful Westphalian model" and concentrate on domestic development, referring to the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 which ended a 30-year religious war in Europe.

Gargash's comments came with the Riyadh summit, where U.S. President Donald Trump also said Iran was responsible for instability in the Middle East.

While the UAE and Iran enjoy close trade relations, they stand politically apart, as the Gulf Arab states around Saudi Arabia accuse the Islamic republic of destabilizing the region.

The UAE is part of a Saudi-led coalition of nine Arab states to support Yemen's internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi in the fight against the Iranian-backed Shiite Houthi group.

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