TEHRAN – Tehran on Monday strongly rejected the “unacceptable” statement by the Arab League on the Iranian islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb in the Persian Gulf, stressing they are an inseparable part of Iran’s territory.
The statement repeated the Arab League’s support for the UAE’s claims to the Iranian islands at its 34th summit in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stressed that the islands constitute an integral part of Iran’s national territory, stating that such claims are contrary to the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, particularly the principles of respect for territorial integrity, national sovereignty, and good neighborliness policy.
He advised the pan-Arab regional organization to acknowledge unchangeable historical and geographical realities when forming its positions, and to work toward fostering mutual understanding and stronger relations among regional countries.
The Persian Gulf islands of Abu Musa, the Greater and Lesser Tunbs have historically been part of Iran, proof of which can be found and corroborated by countless historical, legal, and
 geographical documents in Iran and other parts of the world. However, the United Arab Emirates has repeatedly laid claim to the islands.
The islands fell under British control in 1921 but on November 30, 1971, a day after British forces left the region and just two days before the UAE was to become an official federation, Iran’s sovereignty over the islands was restored.