Gulf territorial dispute: Iran summons Russian ambassador

Iran summons
Russian ambassador over comments on Persian Gulf territorial dispute in a rare
spat

TCSN WORLD DESK

Iran
summoned Russia’s ambassador on Wednesday after Moscow released a joint
statement with Arab countries earlier this week challenging Iran’s claim to
disputed islands in the Persian Gulf. It marked a rare spat between Iran
and Russia, which have deepened ties since Moscow invaded Ukraine, with Iran
supplying killer drones that have been used to

devastating effect there. Iran
and Russia are also strong backers of President Bashar Assad in Syria’s civil
war. Iran’s official IRNA news agency said the ambassador was summoned
over a joint statement released Monday after a meeting in Moscow between Russia
and the Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes the United Arab Emirates,
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. In the statement, the
ministers affirmed their support for efforts “to reach a peaceful solution to
the issue of the three islands, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa, through
bilateral negotiations or the international court of justice according to the
Saudi Press Agency. Iran took control the three islands after British
forces withdrew in 1971 and considers them an “inseparable” part of its territory.
The United Arab Emirates also claims the three islands and has long pressed for
a negotiated solution. “We never stand upon ceremony with any side over
Iran’s independence, sovereignty and integrity,” Iran’s Foreign Minister
Hossein Amirabdollahian tweeted, without naming Russia. The three
islands dominate the approach to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway
through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes. Iran
says the islands have been part of Persian states from antiquity up until they
were occupied by the British in the early 20th century. It also says an
agreement reached with Sharjah, one of the UAE’s seven emirates, gives it the
right to administer Abu Musa and station troops there. There is no such
agreement on the other two islands. The UAE says they belonged to the emirate
of Ras al-Khaimah until Iran seized them by force days before the Emirati
federation was formed.