Iran rejects 'unacceptable’ Arab League statement on Persian Gulf islands
The spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly rejected as “unacceptable” a recent statement by the Arab League regarding the Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb islands in the Persian Gulf, stressing they are an inseparable part of Iran’s territory.
Esmaeil Baghaei firmly rejected the claims concerning the three Iranian islands in the final communiqué of the 34th Arab League Summit in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
The statement repeated the Arab League’s support for the UAE’s sovereignty over the three islands administered by Iran since 1971.
The Iranian diplomat underlined that the islands constitute an integral part of Iran’s national territory, and such claims are contrary to the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, particularly the principles of respect for territorial integrity, national sovereignty, and good neighborliness policy.
Baghaei stated that raising such issues in the Arab League’s final statement is “unacceptable.”
He also advised the pan-Arab regional organization to acknowledge unchangeable historical and geographical realities when forming its positions, and to work toward fostering mutual understanding and stronger relations among regional countries.
The Persian Gulf islands of Abu Musa, the Greater and Lesser Tunbs have historically been part of Iran, proof of which can be found and corroborated by countless historical, legal, and geographical documents in Iran and other parts of the world. However, the United Arab Emirates has repeatedly laid claim to the islands.
The islands fell under British control in 1921 but on November 30, 1971, a day after British forces left the region and just two days before the UAE was to become an official federation, Iran’s sovereignty over the islands was restored.
