In his speech at Iran’s Majlis (parliament), Malis Speaker Ali Larijani warned the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to stop a useless dispute with Iran over claiming three Persian Gulf Islands which have always been within Iranian territory.

According to Khabar Online correspondent, when President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made a visit to Abu Musa Island in the Persian Gulf on Wednesday, the UAE's Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahayan criticized Ahmadinejad’s trip to the Iranian island and called it a violation of the UAE sovereignty over its territories.
 
"The visit is a flagrant violation of the United Arab Emirates' sovereignty over its territory and a transgression of efforts to find a peaceful settlement to end Iranian occupation of the three UAE islands," the UAE's state news agency WAM quoted Emirati Foreign Minister as saying. 
 
Ahmadinejad's travel to the island was part of his tour of the southern province of Hormozgan. Statesments made by Emirati official was dismissed by Iranian lawmakers who said Ahmadinejad’s visit to the island of Abu Musa was an “internal issue”.
 
Even based on ancient historical maps, the three islands of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs have always been a part of Iranian territory even before the seven Gulf emirates gained full independence from Britain and formed the UAE in 1971.
 
While the UAE has asked the Islamic Republic of Iran to agree to take the dispute to the International Court of Justice in The Hague or engage in direct negotiations, Tehran underlined its sovereignty over the three islands is not negotiable but has proposed talks with the UAE to remove misunderstandings.
 
Elsewhere in his remarks, Larijani pointed to Iran's nuclear negotiation with 5+1 group (the United States, the UK, France, Russia, China and Germany) held in Istanbul.
 
"Due to a change in the West's attitude towards the Islamic Republic of Iran after recent talks, it's soon to give an analysis on the meeting, but the decision to return to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is a step forward," he said.
 
"It's an opportunity for 5+1 group that instead of fruitless negotiations recognizes Iran's nuclear rights and peaceful use of atomic energy," the top Iranian lawmaker added.
 
Addressing 5+1 group, former Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said: "If you replace bullying with ration and logic, you will be able to enjoy more interaction from the side of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
 
Majlis Speaker went on to say: “The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei] issued a religious decree banning the production and use of mass destruction weapons. He called the decree as a base for ending armed struggles and the use of nuclear weapons.”
 
“The Majlis (Islamic Consultative Assembly) appreciates the efforts of Iranian nuclear negotiator team, supports them and simply backs the talks which recognize the rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he said.
 
Larijani made a reference to the issue of Palestinians resistance and uprising of Bahraini people: “Nowadays under the pressure of dictatorships, the oppressed and brave nations of Palestine and Bahrain are through their ordeals.”
 
“The hunger strike of Palestinian combatants held in a month and in Bahrain for two late months reveals the depth of such campaigns. The dictators must know that such power of resistance proves the determination and strength of people in following their revolutionary path,” the senior lawmaker said.
 
“The Islamic Republic of Iran supports the sacrificial move of Palestinian combatants and Bahraini Mujaheds. We advice their rulers to yield to the demands of their people,” he added.         
281
News ID 181718