Source: Press TV

Iran has responded to a recent statement by Arab countries, dismissing territorial claims made by the UAE on three Persian Gulf islands.

"All of our country's policies and initiatives on the island of Abu Musa are legal and in line with the Islamic Republic of Iran's rights," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said on Wednesday.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) frequently makes territorial claims against the Islamic Republic, claiming that it owns the three islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa.
 

The three islands are located near key Persian Gulf shipping lanes
 

While Iran is the legal owner of the islands, Abu Dhabi has managed to gain the support of other regional Arab states. Its efforts have prompted the recent release of a statement by the six-member Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) on the ownership of the islands.

The statement also criticizes Iran for its reported establishment of maritime facilities on Abu Musa.

Tehran dismissed the statement as baseless and repetitive, saying that the PGCC move was a form of interference in Iran's internal affairs.

The three Persian Gulf islands were historically owned by Iran but temporarily fell under British control.

The islands were then returned to Iran on November 30th 1971 through a legal process before the state of the United Arab Emirates was created and the Al Nahyan assumed leadership.

According to international regulations, no state can defy any agreements which had come into being before its creation unless such agreements had been officially declared as null and void by the newly created state.

... Payvand News - 09/04/08 ...

Bookmark/Share this post with:
Delicious | Digg | Facebook | Furl | Google | Magnolia | Newsvine | Reddit | Yahoo