ABU DHABI, June 17 (Xinhua) -- President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan spoke by phone Tuesday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, reaffirming UAE's commitment to reducing tensions and supporting regional peace.
"The UAE continues its intensive communication and consultations with concerned parties to de-escalate the situation," the UAE president said, adding that his country supports any steps aimed at restoring calm between Israel and Iran.
The UAE president also expressed solidarity with Iran and its people, stressing the importance of containing the crisis and preventing it from escalating into broader regional instability.
The call came amid heightened tensions following Israel's recent large-scale military strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, killing several senior Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists. In response, Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory. The five-day aerial conflict has left at least 244 people dead in Iran and 24 in Israel. ■
