TEHRAN -- Iran’s Foreign Minister Hussein Amir-Abdollahian discussed the Yemen crisis with his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed in a phone conversation, the official news agency IRNA reported.
During the call, they discussed bilateral and regional issues and reiterated the importance of improving ties, the report added.
Amir-Abdollahian also underlined that “the Zionist regime’s presence is a threat to the regional security”, in a reference to the normalization of ties between Israel and some Persian Gulf countries including the UAE.
“Efforts should be made to prevent initiators of tension from establishing a foothold in the region,” said the Iranian foreign minister.
He also touched on the military campaign being waged on Yemen by a Saudi-led coalition, to which the UAE is a party, saying, “We believe that the continuation of war and the spread of conflicts and disputes will not be in the interests of any of the sides and the region.”
Amir-Abdollahian said Iran and the UAE enjoy positive and progressive relations, adding, “Good meetings and consultations have been held between officials of the two countries.”
For his part, the UAE foreign minister reiterated his country’s firm determination to expand relations with Iran, stressing the need to continue bilateral talks on various issues.
Separately, Amir-Abdollahian said cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia could help solve the existing problems facing the region and the Muslim world.
He made the remarks in a Thursday phone call with Hissein Ibrahim Taha, the secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Amir-Abdollahian said the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia are two important countries in the region and the Muslim world, expressing hope that their cooperation would help solve their problems.
Ibrahim Taha, for his part, welcomed the reopening and active participation of the Islamic Republic’s mission in the organization, and lauded Iran’s effective and important role as a founding and active member of the OIC.
Voicing support for talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Ibrahim Taha expressed regret over the emergence of problems among Muslim countries, adding that the organization invites Muslim nations to peace and dialogue.
Amir-Abdollahian also held phone talks with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein during which they stressed the need to put a rapid end to the ongoing devastating war in Yemen.
The Iraqi foreign minister stressed the importance of continuing Tehran-Riyadh talks and its positive effects on deepening and consolidating stability and security in the entire region.
 In a separate phone call with his Japanese counterpart Hayashi Yoshimasa on Thursday, Amir-Abdollahian hailed Tokyo’s efforts to help Iran and the five remaining parties to the deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPAO), achieve progress in the Vienna talks.
The Islamic Republic, he said, is ready to achieve a “good, lasting and reliable deal.”
The Iranian foreign minister also welcomed deepening of cooperation with Japan in various fields.
The Japanese foreign minister, for his part, said his country supports the Vienna talks to remove the sanctions that the United States has imposed on Tehran.
Pointing to historical and very important relations between Tehran and Tokyo, he said the two sides have appropriate capacities to strengthen economic cooperation after the removal of the existing obstacles.
The top Japanese diplomat invited his Iranian counterpart to travel to Tokyo.