According to a written statement from the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tehran’s objections were conveyed to Russian Ambassador Alexey Yurievich Dedov, who was summoned to the ministry.
It was stated that the islands in question belong to Iran “forever” and that Russia is expected to correct its approach on this issue.
Russian Ambassador to Tehran Dedov emphasized the importance of respecting Iran’s territorial integrity and stated that he would convey the situation to Moscow as soon as possible.
In the joint statement released after the “Russia-Gulf Cooperation Council 6th Strategic Dialogue Meeting” held at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow on July 10, “The UAE’s conflict with Iran regarding the islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa is governed by the rules of international law. support to all peaceful efforts, including the attempt to reach a peaceful solution within the framework of bilateral negotiations and through bilateral negotiations.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kenani reacted to the statement yesterday.
Islands dispute between Iran and UAE
Abu Musa, which is in a strategic position due to its proximity to the Strait of Hormuz and the oil potential in the region, claims Iran and the UAE dominance over the islands of Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb.
The islands were under British occupation until 1971. Immediately after Britain’s withdrawal in November 1971, transferring control of the islands to the UAE, Iran took control of the islands. The UAE describes Iran, which has deployed its military forces on the islands, as an “invader”.
Proposing the thesis that its rights on the islands are historically ancient, Iran argues that the islands were temporarily captured by the British in 1903 and returned in 1971, so that “the UAE, which was not yet established at that time, cannot claim sovereignty”.
The UAE, on the other hand, takes initiatives before Arab countries and international organizations in line with its claims on the islands.
After the China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit held in Saudi Arabia in December 2022, Iran reacted similarly to the evaluations defending the UAE’s theses about the three islands and summoned the Chinese Ambassador to Tehran to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.