Abu Dhabi [UAE], April 2 (ANI): The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, and US counterpart Donald Trump held a telephone conversation to review 'regional developments,' according to a report by the official Emirates News Agency (WAM).

The two leaders deliberated on the current situation in the Middle East during the call, as detailed in a social media update shared by the state news agency on X.

During the exchange, the official Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported that the two leaders 'discussed the ongoing Iranian terrorist aggression against the UAE and other countries in the region, which targets civilians and civilian facilities and infrastructure.'

This high-level conversation occurred against a backdrop of escalating hostilities stemming from the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

Since the outbreak of war on February 28, numerous Arab and Islamic nations, including every member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), have been subjected to recurrent Iranian strikes, despite maintaining they have no involvement in the fighting.

This latest dialogue follows a similar high-level engagement last month on March 19, when UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the US President discussed regional developments and their impact on global peace, according to WAM.

During that previous call, the two leaders reviewed what were described as 'blatant and continuous Iranian aggressions against the United Arab Emirates and other countries in the region, which target civilians, civilian facilities, and infrastructure, representing a violation of the sovereignty of these countries and international laws.'

At the time, President Trump condemned the attacks and reaffirmed the 'United States' solidarity with the UAE and the countries of the region, and its full support for them in defending their territories, stability, and security.'

The ongoing diplomatic coordination comes as the UAE's state security service announced the dismantling of a network operating within the country that was allegedly funded and directed by Lebanon's Hezbollah and Iran, with several individuals arrested.

According to WAM, the group operated under the guise of commercial activities, attempting to infiltrate the national economy and carry out activities that could undermine the country's financial stability.

Authorities stated that the network functioned under 'a pre-prepared strategic plan with foreign parties linked to Lebanese Hezbollah and Iran, violating economic and legal systems to launder money, fund terrorism, and threaten national security.'

While the statement did not disclose the number or nationalities of those detained, an image shared on WAM's X account showed five blindfolded individuals in custody. (ANI)