UAE expresses readiness for dialogue with Iran over islands

The United Arab Emirates has expressed its readiness to maintain a dialogue with Iran over the question of three disputed Gulf islands.

UAE Minister of Information Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed al-Nahyan told Al-Jazira satellite television that his country is ready for negotiations with Iran, if Iran "will be serious about what has been announced recently."

On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi said Iran will not oppose holding bilateral negotiations with the UAE if such negotiations are monitored by a committee formed by the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The UAE minister expressed his hope that the tripartite committee which includes the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman can reach a point where negotiations will be pushed toward obligating the two sides to resort to international arbitration later on.