DUBAI, Jan 13 (Reuters) – Dubai’s ruler has urged the
international community to ease sanctions against Iran, in an
interview broadcast by the BBC on Monday.
Asked whether he thought it was now time to lift sanctions
against Iran, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also
the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, told the British
broadcaster:
“I think so … Iran is our neighbour and we don’t want any
problem,” he said.
The vast majority of trade between Iran and its Gulf Arab
neighbours is routed through Dubai, home to tens of thousands of
ethnic Iranians and one of seven emirates making up the United
Arab Emirates.
A deal between Iran and six major powers intended to pave
the way to a solution to a long standoff over Tehran’s nuclear
ambitions will come into force on Jan. 20, the Iranian Foreign
Ministry and the European Union said on Sunday.
(Writing by Yara Bayoumy; Editing by Eric Walsh)
