Biden, UAE crown prince discuss Iran, Tigray via telephone

WASHINGTON

US President Joe Biden and Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of United Arab Emirates discussed a range of issues, including Iran and the conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, the White House said Tuesday.

"They discussed regional and global challenges, including Afghanistan, the nuclear and regional dimensions of the threat posed by Iran, as well as the common quest for de-escalation and peace in the Middle East," said the presidential mansion in a statement.

"In that regard, the President underlined the strategic importance of the normalization of relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel. He expressed his full support for strengthening and expanding these arrangements," it added.

The two leaders also agreed on the priority of working together to address the conflict in Tigray, including the humanitarian crisis.

Biden also congratulated the crown prince on the United Arab Emirates’ upcoming 50th anniversary of independence and reflected on collaborative efforts both nations have undertaken on issues ranging from space to climate to defense and security.