Iran summons UAE envoy

Iran has summoned the United Arab Emirates charge d’affaires in Tehran over UAE foreign minister’s recent claims on the ownership of the three Persian Gulf islands.

In late April, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan raised eyebrows when he compared Iran’s ownership of three islands of Abu Musa, the Greater Tunb and the Lesser Tunb, to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands.

The UAE’s charge d’affaires, in the absence of the country’s ambassador, has been summoned and was issued a stern warning to his country because of the “brazen and impudent words of UAE Foreign Minister,” Ramin Mehmanparast, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, told reporters at his weekly press conference on Tuesday.

“There was also a meeting held in the UAE, and they were conveyed the displeasure of our officials towards their unmeasured statements,” he said.

The three Persian Gulf islands have long been owned by Iran, the proof of which is found and corroborated independently of each other in countless historical, legal and geographical documents in Tehran and other parts of the world.

The islands temporarily fell under British control in the 1800s, but were nevertheless returned to Iran on November 30th 1971 through legal procedures long before the statehood of the United Arab Emirates was declared and the al-Nahayan clan assumed leadership.

UAE and Iran have strong trade relations; however, in the wake of the UAE foreign minister’s controversial remarks, the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) has instituted measures to lower the level of relations between Iran and the tiny Arab sheikhdom.