TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior Iranian lawmaker deplored the "unfounded" territorial claims raised by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the three Iranian islands of Abu Musa, the Greater Tunb and the Lesser Tunb in the Persian Gulf, and reiterated that the three islands are inseparable parts of the Iranian territory.
"The three Iranian Persian Gulf islands of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs are inseparable parts of Iran," Kazzem Jalali said on Thursday.

Jalali's remarks came in reaction to the Emirati officials' renewed claims on Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf.

Iranian officials have on many occasions rejected the claims raised by the UAE on the three Iranian islands, underlining that such statements are baseless and unfounded.

In December, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham condemned the similar allegations of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) about the ownership of the three Persian Gulf islands.

"The repetition of the meddling stances on the Islamic Republic of Iran's sovereignty over the three (Persian Gulf) islands of Abu Musa, the Greater Tunb and the Lesser Tunb cannot influence the existing legal and historical realities and these islands are inseparable parts of the Iranian territory," the spokeswoman said.

She noted that Iran has prioritized the policy of friendly relations with neighbors based on non-interference in internal affairs and mutual respect, and said, "The Islamic Republic sees no boundary for expanding friendly ties and it also welcomes constructive interaction and enhanced and all-out cooperation" with the neighboring nations.

The remarks by Afkham came after the PGCC at the end of its 135th foreign ministerial meeting in Doha, Qatar, issued a statement repeating its old allegations about UAE ownership of Iran's trio islands in the Persian Gulf.

International documents clearly show that the three islands of the Greater Tunb, the Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa which were historically owned by Iran, temporarily fell to British control in 1903. The islands were returned to Iran based on an agreement in 1971 before the UAE was born.

Iran has repeatedly declared that its ownership of the three islands is unquestionable.

Under international law, no state can defy any agreement, which came into being before its establishment.

Yet, the UAE continues to make territorial claims against the Islamic Republic despite historical evidence and international regulations.

By Fars News Agency

 

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