Islam Times - Iran rejects ‘meddlesome’ remarks by Arab League chief

Islam Times - Iran has dismissed “meddlesome” remarks by the Secretary General of the Arab League (AL) Ahmed Aboul Gheit about three Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf, inviting him to brush up on the history and geography of the Middle East.

“The rehashing of these incorrect stances has not had and will never have any impact on the existing historical, geographical and legal realities,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Bahram Qassemi, said on Tuesday, adding, “These islands are an inseparable part of the Iranian territory.”

The Iranian spokesperson urged the Arab League chief to spend more time studying regional history and geography in order to reach a better understanding of the Persian Gulf region.

Addressing a joint press conference with Bahraini Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Bin Mohamed Al Khalifah in Manama on Monday, Aboul Gheit claimed that there is evidence that the three islands of the Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa belong to the United Arab Emirates and called on Iran to end its "occupation" of the islands.

He leveled baseless allegations against the Islamic Republic’s policies and viewpoints, claiming that Iran pursues approaches to threaten regional countries and impose its own stances on them.

The islands of the Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa have always been part of Iran historically, the proof of which can be found in 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 baseless claims to the islands.