Senior UAE and Iranian officials held a call to discuss de-escalation on Wednesday, UAE state media reported, the first high-level call since ties deteriorated over the US-Iran war.

UAE Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan “held a phone call with Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran, during which they discussed regional developments and ways to de-escalate tensions in the region”, according to a statement released by the WAM news agency.

The discussion comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and continued diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.

Since the start of the Middle East war, the UAE has taken a hawkish tone towards Iran, recalling its ambassador and closing its embassy after Tehran began its campaign targeting the Emirates and other Gulf countries.

The Gulf states joined Bahrain in calling for UN Security Council action on the Strait of Hormuz.

Since February 28, oil tanker traffic through the strait has fallen by more than 90 per cent after Iran closed it.

The UAE has endured a large number of missile and drone attacks originating from Iran during the conflict before US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire on April 8.