Emirati Minister Accuses Mogherini of 'Misunderstanding Tehran's Objectives'

An Emirati minister on Wednesday accused Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, of 'misunderstanding Iran's objectives' and criticized the European Union for its attempts to engage the Islamic Republic in stabilizing the region. According to Reuters from Dubai, the UAE Foreign Minister on Wednesday, July 28, also accused Tehran of contributing to the multipolarity of the Middle East with its 'aggressive and confrontational' policies. Anwar Gargash, the Emirati minister, believes that Federica Mogherini, who visited Tehran earlier this week, does not 'understand' Iran's goals in the region and that her praise for the 'commitment' of Iranian negotiators in nuclear talks lacks a valid basis. Federica Mogherini, the EU's senior foreign policy representative, met with President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during her visit to Tehran on Tuesday, July 27. The Iranian Foreign Minister announced the beginning of a 'new round' of negotiations between Iran and the EU, termed 'high-level talks', and Mogherini emphasized that the Vienna nuclear agreement is merely 'the beginning of the road'. Before heading to Tehran, Mogherini wrote in an article published in The Guardian that EU foreign ministers had asked her to seek ways to create a framework for regional cooperation that includes a role for Tehran. In response to this article, Reuters quoted Anwar Gargash's Twitter post, stating that he sees no indication in the article of 'understanding Iran's regional and confrontational policy and its sectarian aspect that has made the Middle East multipolar'. Reuters reports that most Gulf countries, following the signing of the nuclear agreement, are concerned that the relationship between Iran and the US will strengthen and that Tehran will gain the audacity to seek further expansion of its influence. The Emirati minister's criticism of Mogherini's approach to relations with the Islamic Republic comes at a time when Bahrain has accused Iran of involvement in smuggling explosives and weapons into its territory and a possible role in a terrorist explosion. Iranian officials have strongly denied these accusations from Bahrain. Meanwhile, the speech of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic during the Eid al-Fitr prayers held about ten days ago also fueled concerns among Gulf Arab officials. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei emphasized in his speech on Saturday, July 17, that negotiations and the subsequent comprehensive nuclear agreement will not change Iran's policy towards the US 'in any case' and that the two countries will not engage in 'bilateral' and 'regional' negotiations on various global issues. Khamenei also mentioned Syria, Yemen, Bahrain, Palestine, Lebanon, and Iraq, stating that 'whether this text is approved or not, we will not cease to support our friends in the region'.