UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed received a phone call from his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian, the Emirati News Agency WAM reported Thursday. The agency revealed that the two ministers discussed bilateral relations and cooperation between Tehran and Abu Dhabi.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh disclosed that his country welcomed the UAE foreign minister's visit to Syria.

"It is normal for Tehran to welcome this visit, and [the visit] was to understand the nature of the situation and correct previous stances," he asserted.

Khatibzadeh said it was natural for the United States to be concerned over the enhancement of friendly and regional cooperation between Arab countries and Syria, for the mending Arab ties "bears unpleasant consequences for Washington."

The spokesman noted that this shift in relations would see the United Sates' "evil plans" failing, in addition to "Israel's" plan of sowing discord among the states and isolating them from one another.

"This failure will lead to Arab states turning to Syria one after the other," he added.

Khatibzadeh praised Syria's vital and influential role in its Arab vicinity and the region altogether, saying its development would subsequently lead to the development and growth of the region.

"The enhancement of ties between Syria and the Arab states is beneficial for both parties, and their relations will be fruitful more for [the Arab states] than Syria," the diplomat noted.

The Syrian Presidency had announced Tuesday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad received UAE foreign minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The visit was the first of its kind, as no Emirati diplomats visited Syria since the war erupted there 10 years ago.

The visit raised concerns in Washington. "We are concerned by reports of this meeting and the signal it sends," state department spokesman Ned Price said Tuesday at a regular press briefing.

Price reiterated the Biden administration's stance on President al-Assad, saying the administration will not express any support for efforts to re-establish diplomatic ties with Syria.