Iran summons Russian envoy over disputed Gulf islands

By Syed Zafar Mehdi

TEHRAN, Iran (AA) – Iran has summoned the Russian ambassador in Tehran following a joint statement by Russia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that referred to three islands disputed with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said the Russian envoy was summoned to convey Iran’s “objections” to the “contents” of the statement issued on Monday.

The joint statement came at the end of the 6th joint ministerial meeting of the strategic dialogue between the GCC and Russia in Moscow, chaired by the foreign ministers of Oman and Russia.

The ministers, according to the statement, “affirmed their support for all peaceful efforts, including the initiative of the UAE and its endeavors, to reach a peaceful solution to the issue of the three islands, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa, through bilateral negotiations or the International Court of Justice, in accordance with the rules of international law and the United Nations Charter, to resolve this issue in accordance with international legitimacy.”

The triple Persian Gulf islands have been administered by Iran since 1971, eight years before the Iranian revolution, but are claimed by the UAE as part of its territory.

The territorial dispute has been a key sticking point in Iran-UAE relations over the years, with the two neighbors on numerous occasions engaging in verbal duels at international forums.

The Foreign Ministry said the Russian ambassador “emphasized respecting the territorial integrity” of Iran and stated that “he will convey the matter to Moscow as soon as possible.”

The summon came a day after Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said the country has “full sovereignty over the three Persian Gulf islands,” rejecting the Russia-GCC statement.

In December 2022, a joint statement by China and the GCC urged a “resolution of the dispute,” which at the time sparked an outcry in Iran and almost created a diplomatic row between Tehran and Beijing.

Iran and the UAE have warmed up to each other in recent months after years of tension, with both countries reopening embassies and exchanging ambassadors.