Stubb, Al Nahyan discuss Mideast, bilateral ties over phone

President Alexander Stubb on Friday held a telephone conversation with his counterpart in United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and discussed various issues including situation in the Middle East and bilateral relations. “Good call with Mohamed bin Zayed. In the current global turmoil, friends are needed more than ever. We discussed the situation in Iran and the Gulf. We agreed that Irans attacks against the United Arab Emirates and other neighboring countries must be stopped once and for all. The Strait of Hormuz must be opened immediately and without any restrictions,” Stubb wrote in a post on his social media platform X. During a phone call, Stubb reiterated Finland's condemnation of attacks targeting civilians and civilian facilities in the UAE and affirmed his country's support for measures taken by the UAE to safeguard its sovereignty, security and the safety of its people and residents, reported Xinhua, quoting the Emirates News Agency. The two sides also discussed bilateral ties and ways to expand cooperation in areas including the economy, education, advanced technology, artificial intelligence and sustainability, the agency added. The phone call came amid a recent spike in tensions between Iran and the UAE. The UAE has accused Iran of carrying out missile and drone attacks against the Arab state, an allegation Tehran has denied. Tensions across the region have been heightened since Feb. 28, when Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran, triggering a conflict that lasted nearly six weeks before a ceasefire took effect on April 8.