UAE calls Iran’s presence in disputed islands “occupation”
Published: Tuesday, May 27, 2008
13:03GMT—9:03AM/EST
UAE – GULF – TERRITORY – IRAN – ARAB
Washington, 27 May (IranVNC)—The United Arab Emirates rejected today Iran’s response to the three-decade territorial dispute between the two countries as a “misunderstanding” and said the Islamic Republic was occupying UAE islands in the Persian Gulf, Reuters reported.
Rejecting the UAE’s request for Russian mediated negotiations to resolve the dispute, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Ali Hosseini released a statement on Sunday saying that relations between the UAE and Iran were at their best and “if there is a misunderstanding it can be resolved via bilateral talks and there is no need for others to intervene.”
“It seems the Iranian side does not want to understand. There is no ‘misunderstanding’ between us but an actual occupation,” AFP quoted an UAE Foreign Ministry as saying.
The official added: “There is no occupied land more sacred than another occupied land. Occupation is occupation, whether it is by Israel, Iran or any other country.”
The UAE, who has strong support from the Arab League, claims the islands of Greater and Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa, but says Iran has taken control of the three islands and has set up a military base and airport Abu Musa as well as encouraged settlers to move in, reports AFP.
The Gulf is a crucial source of the world’s crude oil supply, and the Arab world is calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the region.
Russia responded favorably to the UAE’s request on Sunday to persuade Iran to resolve the issue through direct or mediated negotiations, announced UAE’s official news agency WAM, according to Reuters.
AFP reported today that the UAE has repeatedly proposed direct, bilateral negations with the Islamic Republic, but Tehran has always refused.
Hosseini said in his statement on Sunday that Iran has always been ready for bilateral talks.
The UAE is Iran’s top trading partner, and the two countries have strong economic ties despite the ongoing territorial dispute.
Sources: Agence France-Presse, Reuters
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