Europe

Kingdom of Hypocrisy Britain pokes nose into Iran’s affairs

Britain has poked its nose into Iran’s affairs once again, making comments about Iranian president’s visit to one of the country’s islands over which Islamic Republic’s sovereignty is unquestionable.

Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office has described President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to the Iranian Island of Abu Musa as “highly unfortunate,” praising the approach “taken by the UAE [United Arab Emirates] over the issue” after it recalled its ambassador to Tehran.

“The United Kingdom supports a peaceful settlement to the conflict between the UAE and the Islamic Republic of Iran over Abu Musa, Greater and Lesser Tunb islands acceptable to both parties, in accordance with international law,” said an FCO spokesperson.

Britain’s advice on acting “in accordance with international law” comes as the United Nations Security Council rejected the UAE’s claim on sovereignty over the Iranian islands in 1980 after it took its claim to the UN.

Moreover, Iran’s sovereignty over the islands has roots in history as the islands had been a part of Iran from antiquity until the early 20th century when the islands were occupied by the British Empire in 1921 due to the weakness of the then rulers of Iran.

Nonetheless, Iran took its islands back after the British occupiers left the islands and even before the UAE was established in 1971.

Despite the fact that Iran’s sovereignty over the islands has historical roots and even Abu Musa’s inhabitants call it “Gap-sabzu,” which in Persian means “the great green place”, Britain has given herself the right to speak on the issue and advise “both parties” to act “in accordance with international law.”

This comes as Britain has repeatedly said the possibility of negotiations with Argentina about the sovereignty over the Malvinas islands is ruled out while the disputed archipelago is one of the 16 territories on the UN Committee on Decolonization’s list of colonies awaiting liberation.

The British illegally occupied the South Atlantic Malvinas islands, which are located 250 nautical miles from Argentina, in 1833 and claims that the archipelago belongs to Britain as far as its inhabitants want to remain British.

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