Iran Refutes UAE’s Claim on Persian Gulf Islands

In a letter for President of the United Nations Security Council Joonkook Hwang on Friday, Iran’s UN Ambassador Saeed Iravani said, “Upon instructions from my Government, and further to our letter dated 2 October 2023 (S/2023/817), I am writing to you regarding the letter dated 9 May 2024 from the Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council (S/2024/375). In the letter, the representative of the United Arab Emirates resorted to fabrications and made false and baseless claims about the Iranian islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb in the Persian Gulf.”

“The Islamic Republic of Iran unequivocally rejects and condemns all allegations in the letter and considers the contents of the letter as a flagrant and unjustified interference in its internal affairs, in direct contradiction to the spirit of good neighborliness, and a blatant violation of the fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter, particularly the principles of political sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity,” the Iranian envoy added.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms its sovereignty over the Iranian islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb in the Persian Gulf and emphasizes that all decisions and actions taken by its authorities in these Iranian islands have always been, and will continue to be, based on the principle of national sovereignty,” Iravani said.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran calls on the United Arab Emirates to refrain from such irresponsible and provocative actions and, as a member of the United Nations, respect the principles of independent sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states that are foundational tenets upon which the United Nations was established. All member states are required to uphold and observe these principles. Furthermore, these principles are recognized as essential for fostering peaceful relations and cooperation among states,” the Iranian ambassador stated.