Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the first time since the outbreak of the war involving Israel, the United States, and Iran in late February, discussing ways to improve relations strained by the conflict.

According to AFP and other foreign media outlets on the 13th (local time), President Pezeshkian stated that he met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan the previous day on the sidelines of the BRICS summit held in India.

President Pezeshkian remarked, "We had constructive talks with the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince for the first time since the war. We agreed to turn the page (on the past), look to the future, and build together."

The Abu Dhabi Media Office also announced the meeting between Crown Prince Khaled and President Pezeshkian in a statement that day, noting that both sides discussed various regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The media office added that the two leaders emphasized the importance of supporting efforts to ease tensions and strengthen regional stability, as well as expanding opportunities for peace and development for the peoples of the region.

Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the meeting that it "demonstrates the UAE's approach of combining deterrence with diplomacy."

Gargash also praised President Pezeshkian, stating that he "has shown a balanced and rational stance and rhetoric amid the prolonged crisis."

Since the war began following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran in February, Iran has launched retaliatory attacks against U.S. allies in the region, causing significant damage to the UAE as well.

The UAE also announced last month that it would suspend trade and financial transactions with Iran.

(Photo: Office of the Iranian President, Yonhap News)