Iran to pursue talks with UAE

Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi announced yesterday that his country is ready to hold bilateral and direct talks with the United Arab Emirates to defuse any row or misunderstanding between the two countries.

Kharazi emphasized that Tehran is waiting for the visit of UAE Foreign Minister Rashid Abdullah al-Naimi to discuss all suspended issues, and it hailed the desire of UAE President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan to resume the talks.

Kharazi received a phone call from United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who expressed the UAE's desire to resume bilateral talks with Iran concerning the dispute over the three Gulf islands occupied by Iran.

Meanwhile, the Iranian minister invited his UAE counterpart to visit Tehran.