Iran’s deputy foreign minister has highlighted the “special place” that neighbors have in the country’s foreign policy, calling for friendship and cooperation between regional countries.

According to The Iran Project, “Neighbors have a special place in our foreign policy. Through friendship and cooperation, we can build a better and more prosperous future for our region,” Majid Takht-Ravanchi said in an X post on Sunday.

He made the remarks after wrapping up a visit to Abu Dhabi, where he held talks with Emirati officials as part of the first round of Iran-UAE political consultations.

Takht-Ravanchi said that during his meetings with UAE Assistant Minister for Political Affairs, Lana Nusseibeh, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Khalifa Shaheen, and Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the Emirati president, both sides “indicated their eagerness to expand relations, particularly in the economic field.”