UAE official says Iran’s stance over disputed islands is ‘illogical’

A senior UAE official has called Iran’s stance over three disputed islands in the Arabian Gulf is “illogical” saying its occupation of the area is “illegal”.

Taking to Twitter, the UAE’s minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash claimed Tehran’s occupation of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa went against international law.

“There are many international disputes over disputed islands, which are dealt with by the countries within the framework of the UAE’s peaceful, legal and rational approach,” he said.

هناك العديد من الخلافات الدولية حول جزر متنازع عليها، وتتعامل معها الدول ضمن إطار التوجه الإماراتي السلمي والقانوني والعقلاني، بالمقابل الموقف الإيراني، وللأسف، غير منطقي لأن أساسه إحتلال بالقوة يسعى لفرض الأمر الواقع ولا يدعمه سند قانوني أو تاريخي.

— د. أنور قرقاش (@AnwarGargash) March 4, 2019

However, the Iranian position is “illogical because its basis of occupation by force… is not supported by legal or historical support”, he wrote.

وقضية جزر الامارات المحتلة مثال واضح ان منطق الاحتلال والقوة والأمر الواقع لا يصنع شرعية دولية ولا يقنن الاحتلال، ورفض دعوات الامارات السلمية لحلّ هذه القضية يضع إيران في خانة حرجة، تعامل إيران مع هذه القضية يرسل رسالة اشمل حول توجهها في منطقة الخليج العربي.

— د. أنور قرقاش (@AnwarGargash) March 4, 2019

He stressed that Iran has rejected the peaceful calls of the UAE to resolve the issue.

“Tehran is embarrassing itself in every international forum because its occupation remains illegal, illegitimate and unrecognised, and the UAE has since the first day called for the peaceful resolution of the issue through dialogue and arbitration,” he added.

الحساسية الإيرانية المفرطة حول احتلالها لجزر الامارات، طنب الكبرى وطنب الصغرى وأبوموسى غير مفهومة، طهران تحرج نفسها في كل منتدى دولي لان احتلالها يبقى غير قانوني وغير شرعي وغير معترف به، والإمارات ومنذ اليوم الاول تدعو لحل القضية سلميا وعبر الحوار والتحكيم.

— د. أنور قرقاش (@AnwarGargash) March 4, 2019

The ownership of the three islands, which sit near important shipping lanes, has been the subject of a longstanding diplomatic dispute between the two countries.

They were seized in 1971 by the Shah of Iran, just days before the formation of the UAE, having previously been occupied by the British Empire and placed under the administration of the emirate of Sharjah in 1921.

In the past Portugal and various Iranian rulers have also occupied them.

Iran has claimed the islands were returned to it based on an agreement signed before the formation of the UAE and has repeatedly declared its ownership is non-negotiable.