Iran Strongly Criticizes Arab League's Statement on Trio Persian Gulf Islands

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi strongly criticized the Arab League for its recent statement on the Islamic Republic's sovereignty over the trio islands in the Persian Gulf.

News ID: 444108

Date: 02 April 2019 - 20:16

RNA - "Iran has the right of sovereignty over the trio islands of Bu Musa, the Greater Tunb and the Lesser Tunb," Qassemi said.

The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman also criticized parts of the final statement of the Arab League summit which claimed Iran was interfering in the internal affairs of the Arab nations.

"We strongly reject and condemn wrong and baseless claims on our country’s interference in the internal affairs of Arab countries as well as claims on Iran’s three islands,” Qassemi said.

He reiterated that Iran's permanent policy was to refrain from meddling in the internal affairs of its neighbors.

Iran has repeatedly rejected claims by the United Arab Emirates about the three Iranian islands, saying that they are “inseparable” part of Iran.

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.

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