Saudi Arabia and the UAE have signaled a possible improvement in relations after a major Yemen-related rift, with UAE vice president Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed meeting Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Tuesday. The meeting was the first high-level bilateral encounter since Saudi forces attacked and defeated the UAE-aligned Southern Transitional Council in January, prompting the UAE to effectively withdraw from Yemen. The strategic picture changed in September when Iran-aligned Houthis moved south toward the Bab al-Mandab Strait and defeated pro-government forces, including the UAE-backed National Resistance Forces led by Tareq Saleh. The UAE’s future role in Yemen was also discussed at a Sunday meeting in Abu Dhabi attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and representatives of several Arab states, including Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, indirect U.S.-Iran talks continued on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, with the two sides publicly divided over the timing and substance of any agreement. Iran’s plan proposes reopening the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States lifts its naval blockade, releases frozen Iranian funds, eases sanctions on Iranian oil and accepts a regional ceasefire, after which nuclear negotiations could begin. Axios reported that Trump was willing to offer some sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for nuclear concessions, but Trump rejected the report on Truth Social, saying, "This is untrue. I offered them NOTHING". CNN separately cited an unidentified U.S. official who echoed the statements reported by Axios. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi left New York on Tuesday after saying he expected a formal response by the end of the day. The Iranian rial subsequently traded above 2.54 million per dollar in Tehran’s open market, compared with around 2.4 million on Monday, according to Pashizi.