UAE 'pardons 21 Iranian prisoners', expected to return home 'soon'
Some three dozen Iranian prisoners have reportedly been released in the UAE in recent weeks, amid efforts by Abu Dhabi and Tehran to strengthen ties.
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The UAE and Iran look to be on course to fully restore diplomatic ties after years of shaky relations [Getty/archive]
The UAE has pardoned 21 Iranian prisoners who will soon return to their home country, according to Iranian state-media reports.
The decision to release the prisoners came following a visit last month by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian to the UAE, Mehr News Agency reported.
The charges against them were not clear and Mehr gave no further information.
The New Arab has reached out to the UAE embassy in London for comment.
It came after the pardon and release of 15 Iranian prisoners a few weeks earlier, the semi-official news agency said.
Iran and the UAE have experienced shaky relations in recent years, particularly over Tehran's nuclear programme, although trade between the two countries has persisted.
Tensions between Iran and Gulf Arab states were fuelled by years of conflict in the region, such as in Yemen and Syria.
But since a historic China-brokered detente in March between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Abu Dhabi and Tehran have also been on course to fully restoring diplomatic ties.
Last month, the two countries agreed to boost air links and tourism opportunities following visits to key Gulf countries by Amir-Abdollahian.
The UAE, particularly Dubai, hosts a large Iranian community, with some estimates putting their number at around half a million.
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