According to Khabaronline, Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed regret over the Gulf Cooperation Council’s continued insistence on repeating the baseless and incorrect claims by the United Arab Emirates regarding the Iranian islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb. He condemned the references to these Iranian islands contained in the final statement of the GCC’s 46th Summit and emphasized that Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb are integral and inseparable parts of the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Any territorial claims against them are fundamentally invalid and groundless and are in clear contradiction with the principles of respect for territorial integrity and good neighborly relations.
Baqaei underlined Iran’s effective, continuous, and undisputed sovereignty over the three islands over the course of centuries, reiterating that the repetition of baseless claims regarding the territory of a sovereign state does not alter historical and geographical facts and does not create any legal entitlement for the claimant.
Emphasizing the Islamic Republic of Iran’s policy of good neighborliness and cooperation with neighboring countries to strengthen relations and safeguard regional security and stability, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson called on the United Arab Emirates and the GCC to refrain from provocative positions inconsistent with good neighborly conduct toward Iran.
Regarding the Arash oil field, Baqaei stressed Iran’s determination to pursue its legal rights, describing unilateral claims over the field as invalid. He stated that the issuance of repeated statements and the advancing of one-sided claims do not, from a legal perspective, establish any rights for the Kuwaiti government. A fair and lasting settlement of the issue, he emphasized, requires bilateral dialogue, joint efforts, and the creation of a constructive and positive atmosphere to secure the mutual interests of the twSlide clipboard items to delete themo sides.