2023-07-13 15:36:04
A senior Iranian Foreign Ministry official summoned the Russian ambassador to Tehran on Wednesday to protest against Moscow’s expressed support for the United Arab Emirates’ claims to three small Gulf islands occupied by Iran.
Alireza Enayati, Iranian deputy minister in charge of the Gulf, told the Russian ambassador, Alexei Dedov, of Tehran’s “objections” to the statement issued after a ministerial meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council ( CCG), which includes six countries on the Arabian Peninsula, and Russia, on Sunday and Monday, according to the ministry.
This press release calls for finding “a peaceful solution” to resolve the territorial dispute concerning the three islands – the Great Tomb, the Little Tomb and Abu Moussa – occupied by Iran and claimed by the Emirates.
The GCC accuses Iran of illegally “occupying” since 1971 these islands located at the entrance to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the oil transported by sea in the world transits.
“These islands belong to Iran forever, and the publication of such statements is contrary to the friendly relations between Iran and its neighbors”, reacted Tuesday the spokesman of Iranian diplomacy, Nasser Kanani.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry has asked Moscow for a “correction of its position on this file”. The Russian ambassador “insisted on respect for the territorial integrity” of Iran and “indicated that he would inform Moscow as soon as possible”, according to the press release from the ministry.
In recent months, Iran has embarked on the normalization of its diplomatic relations with Arab countries, notably Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, after nearly eight years of rupture and tension.
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